Mid-August Lunch

Gianni Di Gregorio's gentle comedy is set in a working-class condominium in Rome, with the filmmaker himself playing Gianni, a struggling bachelor who dutifully looks after his elegant and imperious 93-year-old mother Valeria (Valeria De Franciscis). When the building manager (Alfonso Santagata) offers to cut Gianni a break if he'll take in his own mother (Marina Cacciotti) and aunt (Maria Calì) for a couple of days—around the Italian holiday of Ferragosto, celebrated on Aug. 15—Gianni has no choice but to agree. Short on cash and unable to afford the repairs the condo board wants him to make, Gianni spends the holiday with three old ladies in the middle of a heat wave. Gianni, sleepy-eyed in a plaid apron, cooks and cleans for the trio, but then his doctor (Marcello Ottolenghi)—assigned to the night shift—adds his ailing mama (Grazia Cesarini Sforza) to the mix. In short order, Valerian (who prefers to eat alone) commandeers the television, Aunt Maria pouts, and the other women display issues of their own—each of which Gianni does his best to address, all the while serving up delectable food, including a feast he prepares with his best friend, Viking (Luigi Marchetti). Di Gregorio avoids easy tears and cheap laughs in this winning film that offers a welcome antidote to the parade of movies that depict old age with ridicule or contempt. Highly recommended. [Note: DVD extras include a cast featurette (21 min.), an interview with director-star Gianni Di Gregorio (8 min.), and a booklet featuring recipes of dishes from the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a winning film.] (K. Fennessy)