MID AUGUST LUNCH

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY: Gianni Di Gregorio

STARRING: Gianni Di Gregorio, Valeria De Franciscis, Marina Cacciotti
 
RELEASED: 14 August 2009
 
CERTIFICATE: 15a / 15
R/T: 75 MINUTES

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEmkappTLEM

Mid August Lunch is a very Mediterranean affair. It is essentially writer/director/star Giannni Di Gregorio’s tribute to his mother. The gist of the story is that the main character (also named Gianni) can’t afford to pay his rent, but gets away with not paying for August in exchange for Gianni taking the apartment block’ administrator’s mother and aunt while he’s off on his holidays. Gigi also can’t afford to pay his doctor and agrees to take his mother for the weekend as well.

The reason Gianni can’t afford to pay for his rent/doctor is because he doesn’t work because he stays at home to look after his own mother. Needless to say, the apartment is fairly small and seems smaller when three extra elderly women are added to the mix.

This movie could only get funding in Italy. There isn’t one physically attractive person in it. Gianni’s mother looks a bit like Lucifer if he spent too long on a sunbed. This doesn’t stop her doing her hair and putting on her Sunday best everyday though..

As you expect from people who’ve reached their seventies, the women are all very proud. Despite having a lot in common, there are some initial affronts and behind the scenes bitching. The film is lukewarm during this phase as listening to your own granny talking is great, listening to a bunch of auld ones you don’t know prattling on can get old quickly. Their antics may not grab you directly but about an hour in you realize that somebody has slowly turned the heat on the hob up and you have tingly warm feeling all over. The women are sweet and Gianni’s dedication to his mother is charming. It’s like someone has crept up behind you and given you a big lovely hug without you realizing.

This sleepy paced film is about the maternal relationship, and how the roles of parent and child can flip when the parent reaches a certain age. It’s a shame that this film will only be screened in the IFI because it would go down a storm with rural audiences.

There’s no rush to get to the cinema for this one though. There’s no giant robots or explosions or anything here. Mid August Lunch should go down well with a bottle of red on DVD or when it is inevitably screened on TG4