Brava Italia

Viewers who treasure images of sun-kissed rooftops will love this three-episode PBS miniseries featuring a seemingly endless series of shots taken by a helicopter gently swooping past and circling Italian landscapes, townscapes, and cityscapes. The bird's-eye views can sometimes be surprising, as when the camera looks straight down upon Palmanova, a nine-sided town, or while revealing an ancient Roman road now submerged beneath the sea. Although airborne most of the time, the show occasionally comes to ground level for glimpses of craftspeople at work, celebrations, religious processions, statues (and other works of art), the interiors of cathedrals and other significant buildings, and close-ups of delicious-looking pasta and other regional dishes. The episodes—“The Proud Tradition,” “The Beautiful Life,” and “The Eternal Country”—are narrated by actor Paul Sorvino, who reads from a laudatory script that never misses an appropriate cliché. Produced, written, and directed by Sam Toperoff, Brava Italia is a beautiful if somewhat soporific offering that will likely appeal to armchair travelers. DVD extras include 15 more minutes of aerial footage. Recommended. Aud: P. (F. Zoretich)