Love Under the Olive Tree

Sunset Valley's annual olive oil contest puts more than a trophy on the line, it's offering a parcel of land whose ownership is disputed, and that sparks a feud when Nicole Cabella, a spirited woman who runs her family's olive business, goes head-to-head with Jake Brandini, a competitive local with ties to the rival family. Their initial clashes are full of snappy banter and agricultural showdowns, but as they spar over groves and paperwork, moments of warmth slip through. The story follows their shifting relationship amid family expectations, community politics, and the slow work of tending trees and traditions, without revealing how it all resolves.

Released in 2020 as a made-for-TV romance, the film was directed by Peter DeLuise and developed from ideas by Ann Marie Allison, Samantha Herman, and Jenna Milly, with Tori Anderson and Benjamin Hollingsworth leading the cast.

Though it didn't become a cultural phenomenon, the movie found an audience among viewers drawn to food-tinged romances and pastoral settings. The olive groves and rustic visuals make it a go-to title for seasonal streaming blocks and cable romance lineups, and it got a steady trickle of social media posts celebrating the locations and homey recipes shown on screen.

Critical and viewer reaction landed in the middle, reflected by an average user score of about 6.0 out of 10 from a small sample of votes. Reviewers and fans tended to highlight the easy chemistry between the leads and the film's focus on family rivalry, tradition versus change, and fresh starts, all handled in a warm, unhurried style that aims to comfort rather than challenge.

It wasn't a major awards contender, and there are no widely reported industry honors attached to it, yet the performances and the film's sunny atmosphere helped it stick with fans of light romance TV movies who enjoy predictable but pleasant storytelling.