Charlotte is intelligent and highly cultivated but she is a dwarf. Her mother, Leonore, a middle-aged widow is her staunch champion and defender against the cruel taunts of the children. Ludovico (Marcello Mastroianni), is a mysterious and wealthy bachelor who befriends Charlotte. She is captivated by his fabulous tales about mythical places and distant shores. Broadly this is the description of this "extraordinary, passionate and incredible love story set in a small (Italian?) town some fifty years ago" that accompanied my review copy. There was no mention on the usual skimpy 4-page liner when the film was made - Mastroianni died in 1996. Looking up Halliwell's Who' Who in the Movies, however, it seems the film was released in 1993. Piovani created sympathetic and compassionate music for 'Charlotte' with cold and distant piano figures that suggest her essential shyness and enforced isolation. But there is sinew, too, giving the feeling that she is determined and dogged. 'Ludovico's' music is as fantastic, as heroic and comic as his tales. The few other tracks, on this not exactly over-generous CD, comprise a perky, humorous sound picture of 'Promenade', an exotic Latin-rhythmed 'Baile de la cerveza' and a Valse complete with accordion and very much in Nino Rota's fairground/circus mode. The final reprise of the title track has an upbeat feel that might suggest a happy ending. Reviewer Ian Lace	Reviewer Ian Lace Reviews from previous months Reviews carry sales links but you can also purchase from:
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