UNDER The Tuscan Sun (12A) comes to Knutsford Studio Cinema this week.

This extraordinary romantic comedy follows San Francisco writer Frances Mayes (Diane Lane) to Italy as a good friend offers her a special gift - 10 days in Tuscany.

Once there she is captivated by its beauty and warmth, and impulsively buys an ageing, but very charming villa.

Fully embracing new friends and local colour, she finds herself immersed in a life-changing adventure.

It is filled with enough unexpected surprises, laughter, friendship and romance to restore her new home - and her belief in second chances.

Affection

The film will be showing nightly at 8pm, except Monday, and a 2pm matinee on Thursday only.

Also showing is The Cat In The Hat (PG) showing Friday at 6pm and 1pm, 3.30pm and 6pm Saturday and Sunday.

The cinema continues its contemporary film season on Monday at 8pm with In America (15)

This semi-autobiographical film follows the move of Irish writer and director Jim Sheridan to America, following the death of his son.

The story is told from the viewpoint of his 10-year-old daughter Christy.

She is played in an impressive debut by Sarah Bolger.

The family find themselves living in a rundown apartment block in New York.

It is a horrible place to live and populated by junkies and prostitutes.

As they struggle to come to terms with the loss of a child and to adapt to a different culture, the family befriend an artist.

The artists is living in their block and helps them develop a growing affection for their new neighbourhood.

But can the mysterious and friendly painter help them settle into a new way of life?