Friday, April 9, 2010
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Friday, April 9, 2010
MOVIE REVIEW
Mid-August Lunch
(Pranzo Di Ferragosto)
Table For Three. Make
That Six.
The cast of "Mid-August Lunch", which opened in Los Angeles today. Gianni
Di Gregorio, who also wrote and directed, is at right.
Zeitgeist Films
By
Omar P.L. Moore/PopcornReel.com
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Friday, April 9, 2010
Gianni Di Gregorio writes and directs this sublime and polite comedy of manners
and a lack thereof. "Pranzo Di Ferragosto", or "Mid-August Lunch", is a
rich, affectionate comedy underlined by warmth and gentility. The film,
which played last year at the Los Angeles Film Festival, opened theatrically in
Los Angeles today.
Taking place in Italy, Mr. Di Gregorio's slender and delicate film has a cinema
vérité feel to it, with numerous unbroken shots and an intimacy that draws you
in. The realism of the film is its most striking asset, its actors working
casually to create a mood where nothing happens except for the things that
really matter: life, togetherness and a love of food.
When Gianni's friend asks for a favor, Gianni complies but soon finds that
taking care of his friend's mother while his friend goes on vacation is just the
tip of the iceberg.
What makes "Mid-August Lunch" such a treat is that the 60-something Di Gregorio
plays the adult to the collection of 80 and 90-something senior ladies who
populate the small apartment where Gianni lives with his mother. The
ladies play like rejuvenated teenagers, rebellious and stubborn. Mr. Di
Gregorio's character is the put-upon sucker who's had the Groundhog Day effect
smeared in his face like one-too-many unwanted custard pies.
"Mid-August Lunch" never loses its composure, and doesn't take easy exit routes
to conjure up laughs. The film maintains its shape and focus, becoming
funnier as it moves effortlessly along. Mr. Di Gregorio makes his
directing debut with this film, which was released in Italy in 2008. (He
also co-wrote the critical hit crime film "Gomorrah".)
The ladies who grace this film with their natural performances make it the
funny, sparkling gem that it is, as does Mr. Di Gregorio himself.
"Mid-August Lunch" is a sheer delight, a calm, relaxing film that entertains and
puts a big smile on your face.
With: Valeria De Franciscis, Marina Cacciotti, Maria Calì, Grazia Cesarini
Sforza, Alfonso Santagata, Luigi Marchetti.
"Mid-August Lunch" is not rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association Of America.
The film is in the Italian language with English subtitles. The film's running time is one hour and
13 minutes.
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Read more movie reviews and stories from Omar
here.
Read Omar's "Far-Flung Correspondent" reports for America's pre-eminent Film
Critic Roger Ebert in the Chicago Sun-Times -
here
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