Drama,Comedy,Romance
United Kingdom,United States of America
The movie is based on a novel by H.E. Bates and is set in the picturesque Lake Como region of Italy in the summer of 1937. Miss Bentley, played by Vanessa Redgrave, is a single Englishwoman in her late 40s who has been spending April at the same villa for the past 16 years. She is still grieving the recent death of her father and is feeling somewhat directionless in life.
When she arrives at the villa, she finds that the only other English-speaking guests are a group of brash Americans. While Miss Bentley initially finds them to be quite uncultured and boorish, she soon becomes intrigued by Major Wilshaw, played by Edward Fox, a reserved and refined Englishman who has recently retired from the army.
Although Major Wilshaw is initially put off by Miss Bentley's somewhat aloof manner, he is intrigued by her intelligence and quiet dignity. However, Miss Bentley's attention is soon diverted by the arrival of Miss Beaumont, played by Uma Thurman, a beautiful and somewhat reckless young American woman who has dropped out of finishing school in Switzerland.
As Miss Beaumont flirts shamelessly with Major Wilshaw, Miss Bentley finds herself increasingly drawn to him, despite her previous reservations. As the movie progresses, we see the three characters engage in a complex and often painful dance of desire, jealousy, and longing.
Throughout it all, the beautiful Lake Como scenery – with its stunning villas, tranquil waters, and verdant hillsides – serves as a backdrop to the unfolding drama. Ultimately, A Month by the Lake is a poignant tale of unrequited love, missed opportunities, and the bittersweetness of life.
