Adapted from an H.E. Bates novel this romantic comedy-drama set in a holiday resort in Tuscany, Italy, 1939. Miss Bentley (Redgrave) is taking her usual vacation by the lake at Como when she takes a shine to Major Wilshaw (Fox) who has just arrived. The Major however seems more interested in a beautiful young nanny Miss Beaumont (Thurman) who is also staying in Como. Miss Beaumont is bored and shamelessly leads the Major on. Feeling neglected Miss Bentley pretends to chase after a local Italian boy in order to make the Major jealous and try to win back his attentions.

This modest period piece is a leisurely but hugely appealing jaunt. John Irvin has created a wonderfully amiable atmosphere in the idyllic surroundings that he contrasts nicely with the foreboding presence of a looming World War. You get a nostalgic sense of the closing of an era. The film - a "rom-com" for the older set - is lightly comic in tone but with dashes of dramatic tension thrown in to liven things up. Undemanding stuff to be sure, but undeniably pleasurable none the less.

The actors bring their characters to life wonderfully. Vanessa Redgrave shines as the dizzy Miss Bentley, a woman who just wants everyone to be happy but can't quite seem to manage it. Edward Fox gives an amusing portrayal with pompous charm as a man whose pride always gets in the way of his happiness. Uma Thurman is likewise delightful as the derisive Miss Beaumont. The rest of the Italian supporting cast all overacts a treat. I'm sure it's on purpose too. The actors are all in slightly comic mode, featuring exaggerated characteristics and mannerism. But as the film goes on, you will notice that the three leads tone this down and become more realistic and thus more touching. It's very subtly done, and very well done.

There is something almost tragic and desperate about the romance between Miss Bentley and The Major. Both have been unlucky in love throughout their lives, and it's almost as if this is their last chance at happiness with a partner. Miss Bentley in particular seems determined to recapture a little romance, come hell or high water. So despite - or perhaps because of - all the obstacles they put in each other's way, the final realization of their romance is particularly sweet.

A Month by the Lake is a highly entertaining film that stands up very well to repeat viewings and when you put it into context, a pretty unique property these days.

Uma's part is here is mostly a supporting one. Always an arresting performer, she still struggles to make an impression in the first half of the film through simple lack of screen time. But from the middle of the film onward Miss Beaumont's hand is played more and Uma gets to shine. Still, Miss Beaumont's main purpose is really only to cause reactions in the two lead characters.

Miss Beaumont spends much of the film being totally bitchy and Uma is of course somewhat of a specialist at playing the charming vixen. She does get a chance to show a more pleasant side of the character towards the end. Miss Beaumont isn't really a mean spirited person, she's just a bored young woman who doesn't realise the damage she is causing with her behavior. It's amusing at the end how she manages to convince herself that she was really doing what was in the best interests of Miss Bentley and The Major, despite the fact that it had never been her real intention.

Uma is probably too old for the part, the character seems to be in her late teens. This does not really cause a problem though and serves to intensify the exaggerated comic mannerisms that Uma applies to Miss Beaumont. It's a very flighty and amplified performance.

Uma Thurman: "Miss Beaumont has contempt for all the attention she gets, which is something I can relate to."

Uma Thurman: "I'd rather have a less flashy part in a piece that could be excellent. It's not about me being ahead of myself or me playing some ingenue--which is so boring, and I'm far too old for it. A Month by the Lake was my last ingenue part ever. I enjoyed the hell out of it, because I knew I was doing my last. I loved that movie so much. It was like I had perfected 'ingenue' for myself."

Cindia Huppeler (Uma's acting coach): "Uma gives such a large, animated performance for the screen. Most don't dare go that far."

Vanessa Redgrave: "Uma was special - a fantastically good actress as well as being very beautiful. She has a marvelously individual sense of character and comedy."