The Light In The Piazza On Film
I first watched "The Light In The Piazza" (1962) when I was young shortly after its release. I always remembered it. Elizabeth Spencer's 1960 novella which inspired the film has become a modern American classic and is included in a 2021 complilation of Spencer's novels and stories edited by Michael Gorra in the Library of America.. In 2006, Spencer's novel reached Broadway in a musical with music and lyrics by Adam Guettel and book by Craig Lucas. The musical won six Tony Awards.
Although the movie stayed with me, I only recently read Spencer's beautiful novella and then watched the film anew. Guy Green directed the movie which stars Olivia de Havilland as Meg Johnson, a middle aged American woman who accompanies her 26 year old daugther Clara (Yvette Mimeux) to Italy. Clara has the mental and emotional development of a ten year old as a result of a childhood accident. A young Italian man, Fabrizzio, falls in love with Clara, leaving Meg with the problem of deciding what to do. Her husband, an executive for a cigarette company, has remained in the states.
The film closely follows Spencer's story for the most part as Meg needs to make decisions for herself about how to handle the courtship between Fabrizzio and Clara. She must deal with Fabrizzio's parents and her own husband while consulting with the American consul, a minister, and others. Most importantly Meg goes through a great deal of soul-searching and, in reaching a decision on what to do, comes to a sense of independence for herself.
Set on site in Florence and Rome, the movie offers stunning scenes of places I have never been. The film has the rare qualities of lightness and grace together with a serious theme. In watching the movie, I remembered why it had stayed with me. I also loved reading Elizabeth Spencer's story for the first time. It is an outstanding work and her masterpiece. It is a work for the heart.
Robin Friedman
