Imagine if you are a writer and you got an exciting concept. You are asked to prepare a script for it, and while writing, you decide to play it safe. Well, don’t take it personally, but something of that sort must have happened with Mehdi Avaz, the writer and director of Toscana.
Toscana, the Italian name of Tuscany, has recently been released on Netflix with almost no noise. It was on my watch schedule, and hence, I decided to go with the film. However, only little did I know what was in store.
Come along with my Toscana review to understand the various aspects of how the movie performs.
Toscana Review Summary
Toscana is like a juicy fruit that is tasteless when consumed. With a short duration, what could have been an understated winner turns out to be a long-drawn disaster.
Toscana Synopsis
Theo, a renowned chef, is startled by the news of his dad passing away. He also learns that his father has left an Italian castle with a restaurant to his name. Being financially broke with zero affection towards his big man, Theo decides to sell the castle.
However, he must deal with the problems first.
Toscana is directed by Mehdi Avaz and stars Anders Matthesen (Theo), Cristiana Dell’Anna (Sophia), Andrea Bosca (Pino), and Ghita Norby (Inge) in lead roles.
What Works for Toscana?
In essence, hardly anything comes out well for this Netflix film. However, here’s what I could draw.
Decent Performances
Toscana has Anders Matthesen playing Theo, who is stubborn and rigid most of the time. I won’t say Matthesen does complete justice to the role, but he accomplishes more than he loses. His veiled digs look genuine, and the way he manages his voice pitches is commendable.
However, he could have been better to help elevate the film. A little more depth with intricate details was needed.
Cristiana Dell’Anna portrays Sophia in the film, and she achieves a decent level of excellence through a composed act. Maybe, the script failed both Matthesen and Cristiana, due to which they were unable to spring their magic on screen.
What Doesn’t Work for Toscana?
Dull and Boring
For a movie that falls in the genres of romance, inspiration, and feel-good, Toscana is dull. There is not a single inspiring or heartwarming scene. Even the ending doesn’t extract emotions.
I understand making a film that’s charming and innocent is challenging. Anyhow, as a viewer, I gave my time and patience to Toscana, but it couldn’t rise from the ashes. What could the makers have done to make it uplifting?
Films like Toscana are built on conversations and dialogues. I recently watched Along for The Ride, and it did motivate me to some extent. Even 40 Years Young was well-made. Therefore, Toscana’s creators could have added meaningful and heartfelt dialogues to make it better.
Although the duration of Toscana is a mere 1 hr 30 mins, it felt longer.
Bland Execution of the Concept
The conceptual platform for Toscana is decent, but its execution is shockingly tedious. When the makers created a father-son conflict, it seemed we were in for something. Till the point Theo reaches Tuscany, I had hopes. However, things fell apart soon.
There are no elements to evoke your curiosity. Even slow-moving films can be exciting, but Toscana couldn’t do that.
Cinematography
When you are in Tuscany, you’ve got to focus on the visuals. There are only a couple of scenes that adore the place’s beauty. Moreover, another setback I felt was the crude presentation of culinary scenes.
Recently, there have been films surrounding chefs and the art of cooking. Examples include 40 Years Young, Sharmaji Namkeen, and Modern Love Mumbai (some episodes). All of them were high on aesthetic visuals from the kitchen.
Unfortunately, Toscana has nothing compelling to offer on that front, either.
Soulless
In one of the scenes, a character says, ‘you cannot buy the soul,’ and it ironically stands true for Toscana. The film lacks feelings due to the absence of soulful moments. It doesn’t elaborate on scenes that could have helped develop an emotional connection with the audience.
For instance, when two people are starting to fall in love, some more heartfelt conversations could have helped. If there was a tragic background for a character, the makers could have explored it through, at least, a couple of detailed flashbacks.
Final Word
Toscana tries to stay grounded, and that’s its biggest mistake. Sometimes, a classy concept needs to have high moments to ameliorate the story. This Netflix film starts low and stays like that for the rest of the duration.