Bread and Tulips

San Francisco Chronicle Mick LaSalle

A movie about serendipity and spontaneity.

Chicago Sun-Times Roger Ebert

It may be that a relationship like the one here between Rosalba and Fernando is impossible in real life. All the more reason for this movie.

New Times (L.A.) Jean Oppenheimer

A charming little film, filled with eccentric characters and ingratiating performances.

Chicago Reader Fred Camper

The first half of the film, in which Maglietta gradually discovers herself as something other than a servant, is genuinely engaging.

The New York Times Dana Stevens

Soldini's amiable new comedy suggests that an older, better Italy of imagination, rationality and civility survives on the fringes of a modern nation obsessed, like most others, with consumerism, empty prosperity and easy pleasure.

Washington Post Stephen Hunter

Nicely done, sweet, delicately comic and a complete delight.

New York Post Lou Lumenick

An utterly beguiling tale.

Philadelphia Inquirer Carrie Rickey

Actresses such as Maglietta are why movies were invented: You never get tired of her mercurial personality or of her infinitely compelling face.

Baltimore Sun Chris Kaltenbach

Soldini's consistently understated touch, and a poignant turn by Licia Maglietta as the confused and bemused main character, turns Bread and Tulips into a character study worth studying.

Boston Globe Loren King

Manages the right balance of fairy tale and joyous self-discovery. And the Venice locations don't hurt.

Christian Science Monitor David Sterritt

Maglietta gives a magical performance in this lightweight but flavorsome comedy.

LA Weekly Hazel-Dawn Dumpert

Maglietta, whose soulful countenance and offhand grace are soothing to behold, and Ganz, who says more with a shrug and sigh than most poets do with a sonnet.

Los Angeles Times Kevin Thomas

Too lethargic and strung-out for its own good. Thankfully, it casts a pleasant, amusing and touching spell anyway, but more energy and a markedly shorter running time might have turned a sunny diversion into something more special.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer William Arnold

A sweet-spirited, extremely well-cast little comedy.

Austin Chronicle Marjorie Baumgarten

It's an endearing romantic daydream, but misses the bus where matters of reality are concerned.

New York Daily News Elizabeth Weitzman

As escapist fantasies go, this easygoing romance is a modest winner.

Mr. Showbiz Michael Atkinson

For some viewers, this will seem a trial of predictability and unrelenting sweetness; for others, it's more than enough.

Miami Herald Marta Barber

It's all very sweet, but the film goes in too many directions.

Village Voice Jessica Winter

A happy ending is never at issue here -- it's clear where she's going, but there's little clue where she's been.

TV Guide Frank Lovece

Characters' eccentricities feel contrived and the wackiness seems forced, though the film's amiable ambling does keep the viewer intrigued, if not charmed.

Washington Post Desson Thomson

A little too shopworn and pokey to be more than a respectable European diversion.