Puccini for Beginners (2006) is a romantic comedy film directed by Maria Maggenti. The movie follows the love life of Allegra Castiglione (Elizabeth Reaser) after she breaks up with her long-term girlfriend, Samantha (Julianne Nicholson).
As Allegra tries to move on from her failed relationship, she meets two new potential love interests. One is Philip (Justin Kirk), a charismatic and charming man who sweeps her off her feet. The other is Grace (Gretchen Mol), a reserved and introspective woman who challenges Allegra in unexpected ways.
Caught between her attraction to both Philip and Grace, Allegra struggles to make sense of her own desires and emotions. She feels guilty for her attraction to a man and at one point breaks off the budding relationship. In the meantime she learns that Philip was the ex-boyfriend that broke Grace’s heart. Needless to say, pandemonium ensues.
The movie explored Allegra’s sexual fluidity while maintaining the light-hearted tone of a classic rom-com. Although Allegra is clearly confused by her own bisexuality and has no problems being very dramatic about it, this is not a heavy exploration of human sexuality. This made it one of the few happy movies with a non-villainous bi character made at that time.