The somewhat astringent personality of Katharine Hepburn is well suited for this movie, in which she plays Jane Hudson, a middle-aged woman who has apparently been too guarded or puritanical ever to enjoy a grown-up romance. At the same time, the Rossano Brazzi character, Renato, is an opportunist, adding a dimension of realism to Jane's habitual caution and suspicion.
No surprise, then, that in the end she abruptly puts a stop to their romance, even though it causes her so much pain to do so. Renato wants the romance to continue but seems to have no intention of divorcing his wife and seems heedless of the enormous gulf that separates him from Jane--different worlds, different world views. It is a bittersweet ending like that of David Lean's earlier movie, Brief Encounter.
The movie has been criticized as being something of a "travelogue," but the story would have had far less meaning if it had been set in New York or even Paris. Venice is a magical place, a seemingly impossible city that nevertheless exists as a jewel on the surface of the sea. No other city could so clearly be the setting for the once-in-a-lifetime magical experience of a spinster secretary from Akron.
In any case, the location filming of Venice is a delight to behold.
Another likely criticism, from a feminist viewpoint, is that Jane is portrayed as less than complete without a man. I find this criticism beside the point of the film, which is that romance is an experience that most people want to have at least once in their life.
No surprise, then, that in the end she abruptly puts a stop to their romance, even though it causes her so much pain to do so. Renato wants the romance to continue but seems to have no intention of divorcing his wife and seems heedless of the enormous gulf that separates him from Jane--different worlds, different world views. It is a bittersweet ending like that of David Lean's earlier movie, Brief Encounter.
The movie has been criticized as being something of a "travelogue," but the story would have had far less meaning if it had been set in New York or even Paris. Venice is a magical place, a seemingly impossible city that nevertheless exists as a jewel on the surface of the sea. No other city could so clearly be the setting for the once-in-a-lifetime magical experience of a spinster secretary from Akron.
In any case, the location filming of Venice is a delight to behold.
Another likely criticism, from a feminist viewpoint, is that Jane is portrayed as less than complete without a man. I find this criticism beside the point of the film, which is that romance is an experience that most people want to have at least once in their life.