Puccini for Beginners

Completed2006United States82 min

Opera enthusiast Allegra can explain complicated emotions more easily than she can commit to a relationship. After Samantha leaves her, she…Read more +Read less −

Opera enthusiast Allegra can explain complicated emotions more easily than she can commit to a relationship. After Samantha leaves her, she becomes involved with philosophy professor Philip, then finds herself drawn to Grace, a woman recovering from a breakup of her own. Allegra tries to keep both romances running without asking too many questions, unaware that her new lovers share a history. What feels like a clever arrangement soon becomes a tangle of misunderstandings, withheld information and competing expectations. Set in New York, this romantic comedy follows a woman whose confidence about love does little to protect her from the consequences of avoiding an honest conversation.

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Comedy Drama Romance

Sapphic characters & cast

Elizabeth Reaser

as Allegra

Main sapphic character

Performer publicity portrait via Rotten Tomatoes; photographer/rights unverified

Gretchen Mol

as Grace

Main sapphic character

Performer publicity portrait via Rotten Tomatoes; photographer/rights unverified

Julianne Nicholson

as Samantha

Main sapphic character

Performer publicity portrait via Rotten Tomatoes; photographer/rights unverified

YOUR FIRST LOOK

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BEHIND THE SCENES

Details & credits

Country: United States
Language: English
Premiere: 2006-01-22
Runtime: 82 minutes

Strand Releasing film poster; rights pending review

Artwork source & permission status

Editorial review approved — rights not independently confirmed

Strand Releasing film poster; rights pending review

Original publication ↗

Sources & editorial notes (4)

Last researched 2026-11-03. Editorially approved.

year: Film production/distributor/festival: identity and substantive sapphic lead evidence, checked 2026-11-03
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status: Film production/distributor/festival: identity and substantive sapphic lead evidence, checked 2026-11-03
country: Film production/distributor/festival: identity and substantive sapphic lead evidence, checked 2026-11-03
language: Film production/distributor/festival: identity and substantive sapphic lead evidence, checked 2026-11-03
description: Film production/distributor/festival: identity and substantive sapphic lead evidence, checked 2026-11-03
trailer url: Exact film trailer/preview destination; distinct from full-film availability, checked 2026-11-03
watch links: Current official full-film destination and territory evidence, checked 2026-11-03
western cast: Exact film cast and character / selected release reference; namesake and edition checks in notes
premiere date: Exact film cast and character / selected release reference; namesake and edition checks in notes
runtime minutes: Film production/distributor/festival: identity and substantive sapphic lead evidence, checked 2026-11-03
representation type: Film production/distributor/festival: identity and substantive sapphic lead evidence, checked 2026-11-03