liked it

I really like this film.
I like the historical presentation of the issue of how Facism was operating in Italy.
I like th portrait of the snide,gossipy expatriot colony, Bancroft et. al.
I like Kristin Scott Thomas, I think she was perfect for this role, as was James Fox.

SPOILER ALERT:
I like the whole subplot of the emigre and how she "takes pity" on him as she does in imitation of the story she heard from Ann Bancroft, and how that backfires, and how Bancroft set it all up with a fantasy. I can imagine allthat happening in real life.
I like the way Sean Penn was so gallant (tho I think misguided) in trying to help her.
I like the way she finagled his release from jail.

I didn't like :
-the way she and Sean Penn bungled the whole cover-up. He shouldn't have gone along with her panic, and insisted on calling the police and telling them the boy was an intruder, who had come and threatened her, and then was afraid to tell the maid she had shot someone. The whole sex aspect wouldn't have to be revealed. Then she could have gone ahead and married James Fox.
-that she ran off with Sean Penn, who more or less warned her it woudn't last.