Netflix’s La Dolce Villa Surprises with a Unique Lead Female Character

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So far, the 2025 movie lineup has been impressive, and Netflix’s original content hasn’t disappointed either. One of their recent hits is the romantic comedy, “La Dolce Villa“, perfectly timed for Valentine’s Day. The plot revolves around a worried father, Eric (Scott Foley), traveling to Italy to prevent his daughter from purchasing a run-down house for one euro, leading him unexpectedly to develop feelings for the town’s mayor (Violante Placido). What makes this story unique is its refreshing portrayal of the female lead.

I Think La Dolce Villa Is One Of The Best Netflix Original Rom-Coms

Over the years, Netflix has been renowned for a wide variety of movies they produce. However, one area where they really shine is in the romantic comedy genre, consistently providing fans with new additions. Watching the 2025 Netflix release, La Dolce Villa, made me appreciate it as one of the best of these productions I’ve seen.

Apart from boasting relatable characters and outstanding performances by all cast members, the narrative skillfully steers clear of overused cliches. For instance, the mayor, Francesca, doesn’t act out of character with unnecessary romantic-comedy slapstick, and Eric’s daughter, Olivia (played by Maia Reficco), isn’t portrayed as an irritating brat. Overall, I found it incredibly enjoyable!

And I Especially Love That The Lead Female Character Has No Storyline That Involves Children

I don’t dislike children, but it’s important to note that not everyone chooses or is able to have them for various reasons. Interestingly, in many narratives, particularly those featuring male characters of a certain age, childlessness isn’t a significant aspect of their storyline. However, this is less common when it comes to female characters. In the film “La Dolce Villa,” however, Francesca is neither a parent nor does her lack of children form part of her backstory or narrative development.

It’s often the case that movies (and TV series alike) feel compelled to provide a backstory for a middle-aged female character who is childless, as if the audience requires an explanation in order to empathize, comprehend, and appreciate the character more deeply.

In this portrayal, we often encounter elements such as fleeting references to the main character, Francesca, and a past romantic figure’s unsuccessful attempts at parenthood, or her overly busy work schedule making child-rearing impossible. However, in this specific instance, Francesca is childless with no explanation provided. Although it may not appear groundbreaking at first glance, it truly is.

Just as men can choose not to have children if they wish, women also enjoy this freedom (at present). It’s unnecessary for a woman to provide reasons, explanations, or share a personal story about her decision to not have kids, as it is essentially a private matter and not something others should pry into.

La Dolce Villa is delightful in numerous ways, and I’m confident that the authors (Elizabeth Hackett and Hilary Galanoy) showing foresight by not making Francesca’s story centered around her lack of children will resonate with many women. There are plenty of us who are weary of the trope that main female characters must either have or yearn for children, or have their storyline revolve around why they don’t.

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2025-03-13 23:07