Under the Tuscan Sun Works So Well as a Movie…
Because the film precisely follows Joseph Campbell’s twelve steps of the hero’s journey
Under the Tuscan Sun is one of my favorite books, and I love the film even more. Watching it once again on a hot summer afternoon, I was struck by how closely it parallels “The Hero’s Journey,” popularized by Joseph Campbell. In fact, “The Hero’s Journey” is one of the best-known archetypes for telling stories of all kinds. And yes, this story structure can be applied mythological tales, books, short stories, and films. Here’s how I broke it down, when watching Under the Tuscan Sun, a 2003 film that holds up well — starring actress Diane Lane, Sandra Oh, and a talented supporting cast.
Departure:
The Ordinary World — We meet an attractive, engaging character who is on top of her small world; then, we see her comfortable world toppled by a nasty surprise. Her husband is cheating on her, she’s soon involved in getting a divorce, and her former strong confidence plummets.
The Call to Adventure — The film very quickly introduces us to the idea of Frances’s “hero’s journey,” which turns out to be a “Gay tour of Tuscany.” We learn enough about Frances to know she’s an interesting, engaging, brave, funny, and authentic person. These attributes…
