For Roseanna MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +3 Content: -1

How can a story about a middle-aged Italian whose wife has a terminal illness be a delightfully funny, touching love story? Only if it's clever and well-acted. Jean Reno plays Marcello, the husband of Roseanna (Mercedes Ruehl), who will do anything to make Roseanna's last few months happy. She makes him promise that she will be buried in the village cemetery. Marcello agrees, but there are only three spaces left and he knows other very sick people. The doting husband becomes obsessed with making sure the whole village stays well and safe. When a patron of his family restaurant drinks too much wine, Marcello personally drives him home. When an old man's family tells the doctor to pull life support apparatus, Marcello plugs it back in. Meanwhile, Roseanna has decided Marcello should marry her beautiful younger sister, Cecilia (Polly Walker), who has moved in to care for Roseanna. Things get complicated as a bank robber, a wealthy landowner and a jilted mistress become involved in the bumbling Marcello's quest. Many funny and tender moments between Roseanna and Marcello, plot twists, and a surprise ending make For Roseanna a very entertaining movie.

Unfortunately, entertaining movies don't always win our recommendation. Gratuitous profanity and several obscenities foul the dialogue, and in a brief bedroom scene Marcello and Roseanna are obviously having sex beneath the bed covers. Some sexually suggestive comments are made by a mobster's ex-mistress who wears a revealing low-cut dress. The film's very limited violence includes a mysterious death which compels Marcello to freeze the body until after his wife dies. As his efforts to grant his wife's wish begin to look futile, Roseanna's faith and strength inspire him to overcome his anger toward God. The two decide to focus on the life they have left together instead of on dying. This couple's devotion to each other is a tribute to what marriage can be. Just a little editing of language and sexual content would give FOR ROSEANNA a plus acceptability.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: Fine Line Features 888 7th Ave., 20th Flr., NY, NY 10106