Watch Bread and Tulips

"Bread and Tulips" is a heartwarming Italian comedy-drama film directed by Silvio Soldini, released in 2000. The story follows Rosalba Barletta (Licia Maglietta), a simple housewife who gets left behind by her family during a vacation excursion to Pompeii. Stranded at a highway rest area, Rosalba decides to hitchhike back to her hometown in Puglia, where she feels unfulfilled and unappreciated as a mother and wife.

On her way north, Rosalba gets picked up by a free-spirited florist named Fernando Girasole (Bruno Ganz), who takes her to his shop in Venice in exchange for her serving as his personal translator. Rosalba's accidental detour to Venice leads to her discovering a newfound passion for life, as she explores the city's canals, landmarks, and culture, and meets a colorful cast of characters.

One of those characters is Grazia (Marina Massironi), a depressed friend of Fernando's who shares her apartment with him, along with her teenage daughter, two cats, and a parrot. Grazia is married to an unfaithful policeman named Piero (Felice Andreasi), who sleeps with his mistress in the same hotel where Rosalba's husband stays with his lover in Rome. Meanwhile, Rosalba's husband, Mimmo (Antonio Catania), fails to notice her absence until much later, when he receives a postcard from her with a flower painting on it.

As Rosalba stays longer in Venice, she begins to enchant her new acquaintances with her warmth, wit, and culinary skills, which she learned from her mother-in-law. She bakes bread, prepares pasta, and even cooks rabbit for the guests of a hotel restaurant where she works as a cleaner. Her talent in the kitchen leads her to cross paths with Stefano (Giuseppe Battiston), a maverick plumber who dreams of opening his own restaurant in Sicily. Stefano finds himself falling for Rosalba, despite her being older than him and married. He invites her to his apartment to cook together, and they exchange stories of their past and present lives.

Despite the obstacles and conflicts that arise between the characters, Bread and Tulips is ultimately a story of hope, humor, and second chances. It shows how a person can change their destiny by taking risks, following their heart, and embracing the beauty of the unexpected. As Rosalba says, "Life is full of surprises, but it's not always what you expect." The movie has been praised for its charming performances, gorgeous cinematography of Venice, and timeless themes of self-discovery, friendship, and romance. It won numerous awards in Italy and abroad, and has become a beloved classic of Italian cinema.