Vanilla and Chocolate (Vaniglia e cioccolato)

Sveva Casati Modigliani's novel of the same name is the basis of Vanilla and Chocolate (Italian title Vaniglia e cioccolato), which the Italian film authority recognised as an art-house release. Ciro Ippolito directed this Italian romantic drama for Cecchi Gori Group; it premiered in Italy on 11 February 2004 and runs about 110 minutes. In Turkey it opened on 17 December 2004 as Vanilya ve Çikolata.

At its center is Penelope (Maria Grazia Cucinotta), a faithful wife and mother of three. Her husband Andrea (Alessandro Preziosi) neglects her, always citing work. After repeated infidelities she can take no more and leaves, going to the quiet, empty house of her grandmother Diomira (Serra Yılmaz), returning to her youth and old memories. Andrea, alone with the three children, finds fatherhood hard, and his calls for her return go unanswered. He then learns of her earlier relationship with the painter Carlos, played by Joaquín Cortés.

The children suffer too: young Luca has an asthma attack at school, and his older sister looks for happiness with a much older young man. Ernesto Mahieux, Fabio Fulco and Licinia Lentini also appear. Franco Ferrini co-wrote the screenplay with Ippolito, and the couple must confront their past and accept one another as they are.