Can a childhood prank and a Ouija board really dictate your romantic destiny?

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In the 1994 romantic comedy Only You, a young woman travels across Italy chasing a man she believes is her soulmate. Her obsession stems from a childhood Ouija board session, but the truth behind her fated love is far more calculated—and human—than she could ever have imagined.

Directed by Norman Jewison, Only You follows Faith Corvatch, who becomes convinced at age 11 that her future husband is named Damon Bradley. This belief is reinforced by a carnival fortune-teller, leading a 25-year-old Faith to abandon her engagement to a podiatrist and pursue a man with that name across Italy. The film captures a whimsical, old-fashioned romance, with critics like Roger Ebert praising the lead performances of Marisa Tomei and Robert Downey Jr. for their ability to shed modern cynicism.

The narrative is driven by a series of deceptions. Faith’s brother, Larry, eventually reveals that the entire prophecy was a prank; he manipulated the Ouija board and paid the fortune-teller to solidify the name in his sister's mind. Meanwhile, Faith encounters Peter Wright, who falls for her and goes to elaborate lengths to help her find the 'real' Damon Bradley, even staging a meeting with a friend to play the part.

While the film received mixed critical reviews upon its 1994 release, it remains a notable example of a lighthearted, visually stunning romantic comedy. Shot on location in Rome, Venice, and Positano, the film features cinematography by Sven Nykvist and a soundtrack blending classical Italian pieces with original music. Despite some critics finding the plot thin or the performances uneven, audiences gave the film an A- grade, appreciating its charm and the picturesque Italian backdrop.

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