“My House in Umbria”

“Visually lush and dramatically poignant, “My House in Umbria” is a superb adaptation of William Trevor’s novella about four strangers who bond in an Italian villa following a terrorist attack. Anchored by Maggie Smith in a radiant performance, this HBO production, world-preemed at Santa Barbara film festival and set to be aired in May, maintains the outlet’s unassailable track record for producing quality fare. Not that HBO had to look far to assemble its production team. Helmer Richard Loncraine, scribe Hugh Whitemore, and production designer Luciana Arrighi teamed successfully on the cabler’s Emmy-winning “The Gathering Storm.” And their creative synergy shows here; much like “Enchanted April,” the film exquisitely captures the tonic power of the Italian landscape.

Variety