Mid-August Lunch Gianni Di Gregorio, Valeria de Franciscis, Grazia Cesarini Sforza, Maria Cali Director: Gianni Di Gregorio
Gianni Di Gregorio is best known for penning Gomorrah, Matteo Garrone's brutal depiction of the Neapolitan underworld.
Making his directorial debut, the screenwriter has conjured a completely different film altogether. While maintaining his ability to provide vivid, engaging portrayals of his characters in limited screen time, Di Gregorio (below left) has delivered a gentle comedy in which the 60-year-old - who plays a version of himself in the film - spends a day and night with four demanding octogenarian women, each one boasting her own idiosyncrasies.
Making up for its lack of a distinct storyline - the plot turns on one pensioner after another being left at the protagonist's home thanks to a series of deals that might solve his cashflow problems. The 75-minute Mid-August Lunch thrives on the hilarious and utterly natural performances of its non-professional cast: the pensioners are a joy to watch as they throw tantrums, repeat the same things over and over again, banter and bicker among themselves, and indulge in a clandestine pasta feast in bed.
At the centre of this is Gianni, an exasperated bachelor who has to contend with this band of mothers and more, as he silently struggles with his own financial and personal troubles, both of which are left unseen but hinted at through Di Gregorio's nuanced turn.
Just as Gomorrah provides an unadorned account of the Camorra's dark deeds, Mid-August Lunch never delivers its characters as caricatures. The film reveals humour at every turn, but it never really plays the characters' odd behaviour for laughs. Instead, it invites viewers to laugh with rather than at them, while also allowing space for the viewer to reflect on the melancholy behind the vivaciousness. Rather than depicting people cowering in the winter of their lives, Mid-August Lunch offers a presentation of sturdy individuals facing old age with grace.