Light in the Piazza

Clara Johnson, a 26 year old American with a childhood head injury, arrives in Florence with her mother Meg. In the sunlit city, she meets Fabrizio Naccarelli and captures his attention. Fabrizio is smitten and misreads Clara's disability as naivete, while Meg watches anxiously.

Fabrizio is blinded by love and misreads Clara's condition as innocence rather than disability. Meg attempts to explain Clara's condition to Fabrizio's father, but the moment never seems right, and the family remains charmed by her innocent remarks.

Meg moves the holiday to Rome hoping Clara will forget Fabrizio. She fears the romance will cause scandal and wants distance to protect her daughter, while Clara remains cheerful and unaware of the danger.

In Rome, Meg calls Noel to fly to Italy and meet them. Noel arrives with practical concerns about Clara's future and the viability of the romance.

Noel reveals that Clara's previous suitors were repulsed by her mental disability and that he has arranged for her to be placed in an expensive care home. Meg is stunned by the plan and argues against institutionalization, while Clara continues to dream of a life with Fabrizio.

Meg realizes Clara could have a much better life as a wealthy Italian wife with servants and social opportunities, rather than being placed in a home. She quietly returns to Florence to expedite the marriage without Noel's knowledge.

Clara begins religious conversion to Catholicism, and the local priest is impressed by her childlike devotion to the Madonna. The Naccarelli family's connections in the church help set an official wedding date.

Signor Naccarelli and Meg discuss Clara's dowry as part of the wedding negotiations. Her sweet disposition helps sway their decision and sets the tone for the match.

Just before the ceremony, Signor glances at Clara's passport and becomes alarmed by the age difference. He abruptly flees the church with Fabrizio, creating a tense interruption to the wedding plans.

Later, Signor Naccarelli visits Meg at her hotel and says she should have told him Clara is 26. Fabrizio counters that his love for Clara outweighs the age difference.

The dowry is increased from 5,000 to 15,000, and Clara's pleasant disposition helps convince the Signor to approve the match.

The wedding takes place in a church in Florence without Noel's presence, symbolizing Meg's decisive action. Clara walks down the aisle radiant with happiness as Fabrizio waits at the altar.

After the ceremony, Meg asks Signor about a man wounded by a firearms accident who later died. This brief memory reinforces the sense that Clara will be cared for within this new family.

Outside, the bride picks up an Italian wedding candy dropped by well wishers and places it in her mouth. The groom repeats the same gesture and Meg realizes her decision to pursue the marriage was the right one.