TOSCANA on Netflix: CAPTURING THE SOUL OF ITALY

A chick flick made for guys

Ever so rarely does a movie come along that captures everything in life that makes the painful exercise worth the trouble.

Toscana is one of those movies. Just dropped on Netflix, it's the story of a disillusioned, angry chef who finds deliverance and love in the idyllic hills of Tuscany. A short trip turns into a life-changing experience when he returns to settle his recently-deceased father's estate. And what an estate it is. Anyone dealing with a crushing emotional crisis would do well to invest in a plane ticket and spend a week. Problems magically gone.

Every second of screentime draws you into the beauty of Northern Italy's pastel, rolling hills. I drove through once on the Autostrade from Germany to Rome and, sadly, didn't stop. Even inside the glass and steel bubble that separated me from its magic, I still felt a deep sense of peace and wonder.

The cinematography alone makes this movie worth watching. Lyrical, rich and soothing. Every frame is lovingly composed with the clear intention of seducing you.

The drone footage seals the deal. If you can love a movie as if it were another human, those aerials will do it. I'm still feeling the effects of all that eye candy. This is how you capture the soul of a region. The sunrises, sunsets and vast, sweeping panoramas of Tuscany will transform you into an Italian Renaissance painter.

Toscana isn't a complicated movie. And that's what makes it so appealing. The drama unfolds with all its raw and soft edges through memorable performances by a talented cast in a story of love found and love lost. And, of course, love found again.

Theo (Anders Matthesen), an everyday pudgy Joe with a habit of cooking culinary masterpieces, handles the emotions of the tortured part honestly and convincingly.

Anders Matthesen and Cristiana Dell’Anna

Sofia (Cristiana Dell'Anna) -- right from the Sophia Loren school -- is part tornado and part angel. The actress balances both personas like a high-wire trapeze artist, with just the right measure of bitterness and sweetness. She captured my heart as if she had reached out from my TV and ripped it from my chest. She does the same to Theo, who, we learn, already had a thing for her many years before. It's just another aspect of this story that makes it such a joy to watch.   

Curl up with a significant other or watch it alone. You might be surprised that the latter will be just as pleasant, minus the running commentary.

And do yourself a favour. If you want the full Italian effect, skip the popcorn and chips. Instead, indulge in a nice bottle of Chianti with a large dish stacked with chunks of year-old Parmigiano Reggiano — the kind that feels like you’re chewing on edible diamonds — wafer-thin slivers of Prosciutto Di Parma, a handful of black olives dried under the Sicilian sun, and a freshly-baked pagnotta.

A side dish of aged balsamic vinegar and olive oil will also be required fare to dip the bread in.

Trust me. I'm first-generation Italian-born and this is how I roll. I also live in an area of Montreal where all these delicacies are within a few minutes walk. So there’s that.

Montreal’s Little Italy and Fruiterie Milano

Finally, let yourself fall into the arms of this enchanting film.

A chick flick that this guy adored.

Looks like Tuscany just inched its way up to my bucket list’s number one spot. It also looks like I wrote myself into a torrid love affair with a geographical region.

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