You, Me and Tuscany: A wedding Photographers Review

You, Me and Tuscany is the first movie in the soft black love series. Be warned, there are spoilers ahead!

The movie opens with our main character, Anna, a culinary arts school dropout, whose dream has been deferred by the tragic loss of her mother. Inspired by a chance encounter with a stranger named Matteo from Tuscany, Anna sets off to Tuscany with no plan. Desperate not to return early, Anna finds herself in a situation where she must pretend to be betrothed to Matteo to stay in the empty villa he left behind. The problem comes in when she starts to fall for her fake fiancé’s brother/cousin.

The Tropes and Elements

I love the fact that this movie seems to blend tropes. I see some enemies-to-lovers action in here, some forbidden love, and even fake dating. The story blends them all into the world’s messiest love triangle.

The other plot element I enjoyed was the comedic relief of the best friend. Anna was not totally alone in the world when she left for Tuscany. The comedic timing, authenticity to Blackness, and good commentary from the friend were a plot driver in a way that felt natural.

The colors of this movie really appealed to me as a photographer. Not only was everything vibrant and beautiful, but the film itself wasn’t dulled by “Netflix lighting” or the desire a lot of filmmakers seem to have to make things dark and moody. The way the color and lighting were used really made the food feel real and the experience immersive.

Not from the movie, from my own work

The Wedding

As a wedding photographer, one of the things that jumped out to me the most about this movie is that even though there is a wedding being planned, it is not for the couple in love. The family of Matteo really dives into the idea that their son is getting married. They begin planning immediately and begin welcoming Anna and trying to ingratiate her immediately. The way they went about it was a little troubling! It was obvious that everyone really meant well, but if Anna was actually getting married to Matteo, it was very obvious that they would have to set some boundaries. I may be a bit hasty in saying this, though. Why would Anna be an active participant in planning a wedding that would never happen? As a reminder to anyone who is in the wedding planning stage, boundaries are not bullying.

The love

The chemistry between Michael and Anna was very palpable from the moment they started speaking to each other. The flirtatious play, arguing, the eye contact, and the way they fit together just seemed so natural. Mind you, these two are supposed to be getting Anna accustomed to life in Tuscany and the family. Even though they absolutely should not be attracted to each other as far as they know, Michael admits that he tends to fall for the wrong women while looking Anna dead in the eye. I could’ve fainted. There are scenes in which they are comfortable physically with each other in a way that would suggest that they were already together. It was undeniably electric in there.

The Critique

On the other hand, I did find that it displayed the emotions very safely. There were no almost-kiss scenes or being nearly caught by Matteo. I didn’t feel like the risk in the movie was really all it could have been. I also believe that the ending of it all fell flat. There was an implication that there would be a wedding one day, but I wish that had been portrayed. Instead of flashing forward for one month, the filmmakers could have given us a year into the future or more. Seeing Halle Bailey in a wedding gown with the family would’ve been phenomenal. It would’ve been so incredible if the two serenaded each other at the end credits. I felt like by flashing forward a month, the audience gained no sense of permanence. Who knows what would’ve happened a year down the line? I think we need more representation of Black couples getting a real fairy tale ending and magic not being involved.

What does this say about soft Black love?

The soft Black Love in this movie is everywhere. Here are these two people, the only Black main characters in the movie. They found themselves attracted to each other not just on a physical level or based on their race, but also on who they were. During the movie, we learn about the ways the two connect on a deeper level. We see them grow an appreciation for each other in real time. We even see forgiveness between them. The love they are developing over the course of the movie is in no way based on racial prejudice or struggle. There are no trials and tribulations. There was no abuse. This is a lighthearted feel-good movie, and that’s why it belongs in the archive.

Real Love in the Real World

You, Me, and Tuscany reveals that real love involves forgiveness, humor, admiration, and the ability to go after what you believe in. When a couple really loves each other, they are their own audience and performers. Jokes that I wouldn’t laugh at make them giggle like they have a secret no one else knows. They anticipate each other’s needs and desires as if they created them themselves. I watch people not only fall in love, but also commit to their love. What this gives me is the ability to witness and evaluate the authenticity of real love. It’s palpable. It’s kind. It’s in the room and creates an environment of nurturing. You can tell by the look in people’s eyes. You can tell that the actors in the movie studied love. The longing looks were enough to convince me.

So how does this relate to me being a wedding photographer dedicated to catching artistic authenticity? I am not only dedicated to documenting things as they happen, but I am also dedicated to the vibrance of your images and preserving your skintone in it all. Wedding photographers who specialize in real love are important. Real love, despite showing up in media, is not a performance. Ready to find out more about my philosophy on love? Click the link below to join the mailing list. I send out a monthly newsletter.