Beguiling, if lightweight, italian comedy about a middle aged man, living at. Oct 01, 2014 mid august lunch gianni is a middleaged man living in rome with his demanding elderly mother. August 26, 2016 by james vescovi mid august lunch is a humorous yet poignant movie centered on an italian feast day. Midaugust lunch manages to avoid both these extremes.
A month ago i wrote about watching a short and sweet italian movie called mid august lunch, a comedy in which a middleaged man finds himself taking care of four elderly ladies over a. Mar 17, 2010 italian actorwriterdirector gianni di gregorio demonstrates his multivalent talent, but not in a way that calls attention to itself. In his sophomore outing, 62yearold gianni di gregorio proves that the delicate touch and comic understatement of his acclaimed 2008 directorial debut, mid august lunch, were anything but. A delicious italian recipe from the movies for the. Find where to watch midaugust lunch in new zealand.
The italian cultural society march film of the month is the salt of life 2012. With no pretenses, the movie lands you right in the middle of rome, in the middle. An italian family drama and comedy, described as an utterly charming tale of good food, feisty ladies, and unlikely friendship during a. Midaugust lunch is a gentle movie, unrushed and tended. This ferragosto holiday, enjoy the movie trailer for the. What is to be savored in this small film is gianni di gregorios organic storytelling, unforced direction and utter. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing mid august lunch near you. Directed by gianni di gregorio gianni is a middleaged man, the only son of his widowed mother, with whom he lives in an old house in central. Its as uneventful and often benign as the title suggests, though thats not to say its dull. It was produced by italian writer director matteo garrone whose 2008 film gomorrah was cowritten by di gregorio. As the italian holiday of pranzo di ferragosto approaches, cashstrapped gianni gianni di gregorio gets help from his landlord, his friend and his doctor, who offer financial relief in exchange for gianni looking after their elderly relatives over the holiday. Pranzo di ferragosto midaugust lunch 2009 rotten tomatoes. Instead, the film creates an entertaining atmosphere with touches of realism.
Maccheroni a corporate executive returns to naples after 40 years and is shocked to learn why everyone seems to remember him. A tasty tidbit of a film, midaugust lunch is one of those movies where almost. It was produced by italian writerdirector matteo garrone whose 2008 film gomorrah was cowritten by di gregorio. In his warm and witty followup to the 2010 sleeper hit mid august lunch, writerdirectoractor gianni di gregorio has created another sparkling comedythis time with a dash of the bittersweet. Midaugust lunch comedy the charismatic gianni di gregorio coscenarist of gomorrah, stars in his directorial debutan utterly charming tale of good food, feisty ladies and unlikely friendships during a very roman holiday. Pranzo di ferragosto aka midaugust lunch was written and directed by gianni. His only outlet from her and the increasing debt into which they are sinking, are the increasingly. At times, one can imagine mid august lunch as a documentary. Gianni di gregorio made this movie, his first one, after a career as an ad and a screenwriter he cowrote gomorrah with matteo garrone. Dvd special features stunning highdefinition transfer. The pics italian trailer gives the impression of yet another movie about an old guy getting the.
Its almost impossible to think of an equivalent from this country or the us the. A man gianni di gregorio looks after four elderly women during an important italian holiday. This modest, slight film is a salute to companionship, and the atmosphere of good cheer it conjures up lingers long after its over. Midaugust lunch by gianni di gregorio is a gem whose intelligent, gentle, deadpan humor is entirely irresistible. It was produced by italian writerdirector matteo garrone whose 2008 film. Pranzo di ferragosto mid august lunch critics consensus. Gianni di gregorios luminous sliver of a film, midaugust lunch, is a chekhovian vignette about the joys and regrets of old age and the pleasures of sociability. Mar 24, 2020 midaugust lunch pranzo di ferragosto, italy 2008 giannis day begins at his local shop with a small glass of white wine. Its a mixture of warmth and gentle farce, tender observation and absurdity. Gianni di gregorios midaugust lunch is a slight but charming tale of a cash strapped man played by and not altogether unrelated to di gregorio who finds himself as a character also called gianni entertaining four elderly, eccentric and often wilful ladies and making them lunch in order to repay favours done by friends who want to find ways. Gianni di gregorios midaugust lunch is a slight but charming tale of a cash. His only outlet from her and his increasing debt are infrequent quiet sessions at the local tavern.
One of the most frustrating yet liberating aspects of studying philosophy as an undergraduate was the idea that one could construct a logical argument for pretty much anything such as figuring out the best italian movies. Aug 15, 2009 mid august lunch gianni di gregorios debut film, in which he plays his mothers cashstrapped carer, is a delightful and witty homage to older people, says philip french philip french. On his return home, he wrote an article on some italian films i have seen for the indian film society bulletin, which concluded. As a bonus, viewers are able to spend some time enjoying an italian. This movie illustrated of love of life through a love of good food. The 10 best lunch restaurants in miami beach tripadvisor. Midaugust lunch won two prices at the venice film festival and had a great critical reception in italy. The charming and funny tale of a roman man who gets stuck caring for three elderly women his mother, the mothers of two friends and an aunt of a friend thrown in for good measure on the most important of italian holidays when italians head to the beache and countryside en masse august 15th or. An italian film about life and food if youve ever doubted that a love for life and a passion for eating are intertwined, you need to.
Mid august lunch is a gentle movie unrushed and tended to with great love. A collection of sweeping asian movie epics to ring in the lunar new year at sbs on demand. Gianni di gregorios luminous sliver of a film, midaugust lunch, is a. These appear during the celebration of the holiday of ferragosto on 15 august. The litany of specials at the tratt became the backbone of a brandnew menu at the sister restaurant. Rent midaugust lunch 2008 on dvd and bluray netflix. Di gregorio in midaugust lunch 2008 gianni di gregorio and maria cali in midaugust lunch. Midaugust lunch is a 2008 italian comedydrama and the directorial debut of italian actor and screenwriter gianni di gregorio. Italian films of 2008 at the internet movie database. Midaugust lunch pranzo di ferragosto, italy 2008 the. Mid august lunch a scene from gianni di gregorios heartwarming portrait of italian etiquette mid august lunch, playing at the 52nd san francisco international film. Midaugust lunch gianni di gregorios debut film, in which he plays his mothers cashstrapped carer, is a delightful and witty homage to older people, says philip french philip french. Apr 30, 2010 midaugust lunch pranzo di ferragosto opens in seattle friday, april 30 at the guild 45th midaugust lunch is just about the cutest movie ive ever seen which is not something i expected, as its billed prominently as from the makers of gomorrah. The table is set for this very italian, very funny, yet touching movie.
Jun 04, 2010 that is not quite the disparagement it sounds like. His only outlet from her and the increasing debt into which they are sinking, are the increasingly frequent quiet sessions at the local tavern. Broke, and armed with only a glass of wine and a wry sense of humor, middleaged gianni resides with his 93yearold mother in their ancient apartment. Directed by gianni di gregorio gianni is a middleaged man, the only son of his widowed mother, with whom he lives in an old house in central rome. Mid august lunch is a 2008 italian comedydrama and the directorial debut of italian actor and screenwriter gianni di gregorio. The main attraction of midaugust lunch is not italian cuisine, however, it is the characters. Gianni di gregorios film studies the glow of old age. Midaugust lunch mix of farce and realism served in midaugust lunch gianni di gregorio left, with luigi marchetti plays a 50ish bachelor who lives with his mother. Gianni di gregorios midaugust lunch is a slight but charming tale of a cash strapped man played by and not altogether unrelated to di gregorio who finds himself as a character also called gianni entertaining four elderly, eccentric and often wilful ladies and making them lunch in order to repay favours done by friends who want to find ways to escape their aged mothers. Its nearing august 15 th as midaugust lunch opens, and rome is all but empty in anticipation of the ferragosto holiday, a chance at one last, long, lazy celebration before summers end. Its nearing august 15th as midaugust lunch opens, and rome is all but empty in anticipation of the ferragosto holiday, a chance at one last, long, lazy celebration before summers end.
It currently is being distributed in the us by zeitgeist films. From its first minutes, midaugust lunch establishes a special tone and quality that could only be italian. Gianni played by director and writer gianni di gregorio is a ordinary italian guy on the high side of 50. Italian mothers garrulous presence for more than about 30 seconds will get. Thoughtful, warmhearted, and delightfully free of pretense, mid august lunch offers viewers a light diversion with some surprising depth. After seeing midaugust lunch, i was curious as to what holiday was being celebrated in the movie. A fiftysomething bachelor, gianni di gregorio lives with his ninetythreeyearold mother. The brandini bunch from the hit comedy mid august lunch 2010 are back. The story of italian prime minister giulio andreotti.
Mid august lunch originally released as pranzo di ferragosto is a 2008 italian comedydrama and the directorial debut of italian actor and screenwriter gianni di gregorio. As an oriental saying goes, moments of crisis are moments of opportunities. The russian novelist tolstoy suggested that if you want to speak to the world, then write about your village, and this advice has been heeded by the fiftysomething gianni di gregorio in his directorial debut midaugust lunch. So, i spent my university days racking my brain at getting at ultimate truths like. Opening on a very wrinkled, liverspotted arm resting on bed linens, the camera travels slowly up to reveal the equally blotched face of a 93yearold woman, listening intently to her son gianni, also the films protagonist, writer and director, reading from the three musketeers.
Some cooking moments were so inspiring that after watching the movie i ran to get groceries to cook some italian dishes. Feb 12, 2011 the salt of life midaugust lunch director gianni di gregorio delivers another intimate. Set in the rome district of trastevere during a sweltering august holiday weekend, and featuring a mainly nonprofessional cast, its principal setting is the. I remembered this film, or possibly its successor the salt of life 2011, when i was given a dvd of it by a friend who often finds interesting dvds in london charity shops. Giannithe hero of midaugust lunch, played by its writerdirector, gianni di gregorio, who cowrote the decidedly different gangster epic gomorrahisnt doing much celebrating this year, kept in. This film pranzo di ferragosto in the original italian is a slight and gently humorous film rather than a laugh out loud one. Aug, 2009 midaugust lunch is a film of rare benevolence that treats its subjects with dignity and playfulness.
Midaugust lunch is a film of rare benevolence that treats its subjects with dignity and playfulness. A young neapolitan prostitute sophia loren begins a lifelong onagain, offagain relationship with a cynical businessman in this academy awardnominated comedy. Midaugust lunch an affable bachelor, who still lives with his elderly mother, has not been paying the bills for his condo, but then the landlord offers him a deal he cant refuse. The actors, mostly nonprofessionals, are remarkably natural. The dvds booklet comes with 2 recipes from midaugust lunch. Mid august lunch s moreorless 24hour cycle takes place around the ferragosto holiday on aug.
One of my favorite italian movies of all time is pranzo di ferragosto or midaugust lunch. The older women have many discussions about recipes as much red wine is drunk. This year we are pleased to present mid august lunch, a delightful comedy about gianni, a middleaged roman man who lives with his 90something year old mother. Then, giannis doctor pays a call and asks the same favor. Gianni and his mother agree to do it, and the administrator brings his mom and his aunt. Jan 16, 2014 home all articles all around italy 10 of the best movies on italy be transported to italy with a fantastic film like roman holiday, pictured here. It was produced by matteo garrone whose 2008 film gomorrah was cowritten by di gregorio.
In the salt of life, gianni plays a middleaged retiree who has become invisible to all. This is a charming little 75 minutes italian movie about a tiny slice of real life. Mid august after 17 years at trattoria marcella, owners steve and jamie komorek decided to parlay its stellar reputation and open a place in the suburbs. Pull midaugust lunch from the movie archives this month. Midaugust lunch movie trailer, news, cast, interviews. The charismatic gianni di gregorio coscenarist of the smash hit gomorrah, stars in his directorial debutan utterly charming tale of good food, feisty lad. Midaugust lunch originally released as pranzo di ferragosto is a 2008 italian comedydrama and the directorial debut of italian actor and screenwriter gianni di gregorio. A green salad with a couple pieces of grilled shrimp on top, say. Despite mid august lunch being a lowbudget feature, di gregorio and producer garrone were able to use their contacts within the italian film industry to bring on board some highly rated technical collaborators, including director of photographer gian enrico bianchi and editor marco spoletini. Winner of numerous prizes at international festivals, including best first film at venice and the satyajit ray award at london, plus the golden snail at the academy of food and film in bologna, midaugust lunch is both warmly vibrant family drama and delicately balanced comedy of manners. Midaugust lunch, a favorite italian film pranzo di.
Midaugust lunch, a favorite italian film pranzo di ferragosto. Its a delightful movie about four elderly women and the middle aged man who cares and cooks for them. Read about this summer italian holiday celebrated in the charming italian film pranzo di ferragosto or midaugust lunch. This film pranzo di ferragosto in the original italian is a slight and gently. If mid august lunch were a meal instead of a movie, it would be something light and quick, but not entirely unsatisfying. Despite a low budget, simple production values and a set of characters. Di gregorio wrote the screenplay with valerio attanasio, and this movie is a richer variation of his small, exquisite 2010 film, midaugust lunch. Gianni gianni di gregorio is a man in his midsixties who still lives with his mother. Gianni is a middleaged man living in rome with his imposing and demanding elderly mother. Pranzo di ferragosto aka midaugust lunch was written and directed by gianni di gregorio, who also played the harried son. Midaugust lunch is a humorous yet poignant movie centered on an italian feast day. Even if you cant get to italy right now, you can feel transported there with the sights and sounds of a movie on italy. Poet pablo neruda befriends his italian postman, who uses a newfound love for italian poetry to woo a local beauty. Mid august lunch will be released march 17, 2010 in new york before.
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