Rent Mid-August Lunch (2008)

Lovely, genuinely funny Italian film with lots of wicked old ladies - Mid-August Lunch review by PV

I really liked this film. It's simple - but funny. It works.

The writer/director also stars as a middle-aged man trapped in his life of caring for his mother (like people I know). A couple of his friends are in the same position, but as they have to work or travel, ask him to take their mothers and aunts - so now the poor man has 4 or 5 elderly women to look after and feed: some task! They get the better of him of course in lots of ways - as the man makes them food and dulls his stress with glass after glass of wine...

Some great, true and funny lines from the old women - which are so genuine and real - are laugh out loud funny to anyone who has ever looked after an elderly relative. For those who are younger and don't appreciate the humour of the elderly, it's best not to rent this movie; but for older and more experienced types, this movie is a gem. My only criticism is that it's too short and ends too soon - but it makes a change from the grand finales in happy clappy Hollywood fare.

I rate this as 4.5 stars because I really enjoyed watching the simple set up and the great lines - and I love Italy too (not sure where it was filmed though). A nice little film.

Funny, gentle and moving - Mid-August Lunch review by JA

I wasn't sure whether I would find this film too self-indulgent based on the plot summary and one of the reviews here. In the interviews included on the DVD one of the cast, who is an amateur and a friend of the director, reveals he didn't think it'd be a success when they were making it. Another member talks about it not being what you expect of a film. Di Gregorio has focused in on a slice of (Italian) life you don't normally see, observing ordinariness and drawing out what makes us happy at any age. As with the first reviewer I found it funny and also uplifting.

There were 2 other benefits for me. Shots of parts of Rome where I have stayed: Monteverde Vecchio and Trastevere and listening to the dialogue. As this was not a fast paced action film, it was relatively easy for me as an intermediate level student of Italian to follow the dialogue. The interviews with Di Gregorio and cast members were also very easy to follow as they spoke clearly and were interesting and enjoyable. Because of the nature of the film I was surprised to discover Di Gregorio was the screenwriter on films like Gomorrah, clearly a man with range. I'll now try renting Salt of Life.

Batchelor Old Man - Mid-August Lunch review by JD

A 60ish year old Italian batchelor man lives with his mother, is unemployed but drinks good wine all day. 2 other old women stay for 2 days. Not much of a plot. It is nicely shot in an old village but a bit dreamy and pointless.