Its almost impossible to think of an equivalent from this country or the us the. Midaugust lunch is a humorous yet poignant movie centered on an italian feast day. Poet pablo neruda befriends his italian postman, who uses a newfound love for italian poetry to woo a local beauty. If mid august lunch were a meal instead of a movie, it would be something light and quick, but not entirely unsatisfying. This movie illustrated of love of life through a love of good food. The older women have many discussions about recipes as much red wine is drunk. Midaugust lunch is a 2008 italian comedydrama and the directorial debut of italian actor and screenwriter gianni di gregorio. Its a delightful movie about four elderly women and the middle aged man who cares and cooks for them. The litany of specials at the tratt became the backbone of a brandnew menu at the sister restaurant. Midaugust lunch pranzo di ferragosto, italy 2008 the. 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.
Set in the rome district of trastevere during a sweltering august holiday weekend, and featuring a mainly nonprofessional cast, its principal setting is the. Mid august lunch will be released march 17, 2010 in new york before. In this italian comedy gianni, a happily retired bachelor in his late 50s, finds himself spending the august bank holiday stuck at home with his aged mother and three other assorted old biddies on his hands. The main attraction of midaugust lunch is not italian cuisine, however, it is the characters.
Aug, 2009 midaugust lunch is a film of rare benevolence that treats its subjects with dignity and playfulness. 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. Gianni di gregorios midaugust lunch is a slight but charming tale of a cash. As a bonus, viewers are able to spend some time enjoying an italian.
Instead, the film creates an entertaining atmosphere with touches of realism. Oct 01, 2014 mid august lunch gianni is a middleaged man living in rome with his demanding elderly mother. The pics italian trailer gives the impression of yet another movie about an old guy getting the. These appear during the celebration of the holiday of ferragosto on 15 august. Mid august lunch s moreorless 24hour cycle takes place around the ferragosto holiday on aug. Gianni is a middleaged man living in rome with his imposing and demanding elderly mother. So, i spent my university days racking my brain at getting at ultimate truths like. Midaugust lunch won two prices at the venice film festival and had a great critical reception in italy. Italian films of 2008 at the internet movie database.
Gianni gianni di gregorio is a man in his midsixties who still lives with his mother. With no pretenses, the movie lands you right in the middle of rome, in the middle. 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. 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. This film pranzo di ferragosto in the original italian is a slight and gently humorous film rather than a laugh out loud one. Rent midaugust lunch 2008 on dvd and bluray netflix. Italian mothers garrulous presence for more than about 30 seconds will get. Midaugust lunch, a favorite italian film pranzo di. Its a mixture of warmth and gentle farce, tender observation and absurdity. This film pranzo di ferragosto in the original italian is a slight and gently. A fiftysomething bachelor, gianni di gregorio lives with his ninetythreeyearold mother. This ferragosto holiday, enjoy the movie trailer for the. One of my favorite italian movies of all time is pranzo di ferragosto or midaugust lunch. Gianni di gregorios film studies the glow of old age.
Even if you cant get to italy right now, you can feel transported there with the sights and sounds of a movie on italy. 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. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing mid august lunch near you. Midaugust lunch is a gentle movie, unrushed and tended. The charismatic gianni di gregorio coscenarist of the smash hit gomorrah, stars in his directorial debutan utterly charming tale of good food, feisty lad. The 10 best lunch restaurants in miami beach tripadvisor. Thoughtful, warmhearted, and delightfully free of pretense, mid august lunch offers viewers a light diversion with some surprising depth.
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. Gianni played by director and writer gianni di gregorio is a ordinary italian guy on the high side of 50. 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. Midaugust lunch manages to avoid both these extremes. 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. 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. 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. 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. Mid august lunch is a 2008 italian comedydrama and the directorial debut of italian actor and screenwriter gianni di gregorio.
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. Jun 04, 2010 that is not quite the disparagement it sounds like. A green salad with a couple pieces of grilled shrimp on top, say. 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. Mar 26, 2010 midaugust lunch mix of farce and realism served in midaugust lunch. Pranzo di ferragosto aka midaugust lunch was written and directed by gianni. Its as uneventful and often benign as the title suggests, though thats not to say its dull. It was produced by matteo garrone whose 2008 film gomorrah was cowritten by di gregorio. Midaugust lunch by gianni di gregorio is a gem whose intelligent, gentle, deadpan humor is entirely irresistible. The actors, mostly nonprofessionals, are remarkably natural. An italian family drama and comedy, described as an utterly charming tale of good food, feisty ladies, and unlikely friendship during a. His only outlet from her and his increasing debt are infrequent quiet sessions at the local tavern. As an oriental saying goes, moments of crisis are moments of opportunities. Di gregorio wrote the screenplay with valerio attanasio, and this movie is a richer variation of his small, exquisite 2010 film, midaugust lunch.
This modest, slight film is a salute to companionship, and the atmosphere of good cheer it conjures up lingers long after its over. 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. 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 and his mother agree to do it, and the administrator brings his mom and his aunt. After seeing midaugust lunch, i was curious as to what holiday was being celebrated in the movie. What is to be savored in this small film is gianni di gregorios organic storytelling, unforced direction and utter. It was produced by italian writerdirector matteo garrone whose 2008 film. 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. 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. The dvds booklet comes with 2 recipes from midaugust lunch. 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 brandini bunch from the hit comedy mid august lunch 2010 are back. Feb 12, 2011 the salt of life midaugust lunch director gianni di gregorio delivers another intimate. It was produced by italian writerdirector matteo garrone whose 2008 film gomorrah was cowritten by di gregorio.
On his return home, he wrote an article on some italian films i have seen for the indian film society bulletin, which concluded. A collection of sweeping asian movie epics to ring in the lunar new year at sbs on demand. Di gregorio in midaugust lunch 2008 gianni di gregorio and maria cali in midaugust lunch. 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. Despite a low budget, simple production values and a set of characters. Then, giannis doctor pays a call and asks the same favor. Find where to watch midaugust lunch in new zealand. August 26, 2016 by james vescovi mid august lunch is a humorous yet poignant movie centered on an italian feast day. 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. 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. The italian cultural society march film of the month is the salt of life 2012.
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. 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. 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. Mar 24, 2020 midaugust lunch pranzo di ferragosto, italy 2008 giannis day begins at his local shop with a small glass of white wine.
Mar 17, 2010 italian actorwriterdirector gianni di gregorio demonstrates his multivalent talent, but not in a way that calls attention to itself. His only outlet from her and the increasing debt into which they are sinking, are the increasingly frequent quiet sessions at the local tavern. The table is set for this very italian, very funny, yet touching movie. 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. Pranzo di ferragosto mid august lunch critics consensus. The story of italian prime minister giulio andreotti. Midaugust lunch movie trailer, news, cast, interviews. Beguiling, if lightweight, italian comedy about a middle aged man, living at. Pranzo di ferragosto midaugust lunch 2009 rotten tomatoes. 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. 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.
A man gianni di gregorio looks after four elderly women during an important italian holiday. In the salt of life, gianni plays a middleaged retiree who has become invisible to all. 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. At times, one can imagine mid august lunch as a documentary. After some research, i discovered there are two holidays celebrated in italy in midaugust. 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. 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. A tasty tidbit of a film, midaugust lunch is one of those movies where almost. His only outlet from her and the increasing debt into which they are sinking, are the increasingly. A delicious italian recipe from the movies for the.
Some cooking moments were so inspiring that after watching the movie i ran to get groceries to cook some italian dishes. Pranzo di ferragosto aka midaugust lunch was written and directed by gianni di gregorio, who also played the harried son. Gianni di gregorios luminous sliver of a film, midaugust lunch, is a. Dvd special features stunning highdefinition transfer. Pull midaugust lunch from the movie archives this month. Gianni di gregorio made this movie, his first one, after a career as an ad and a screenwriter he cowrote gomorrah with matteo garrone. 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 is a film of rare benevolence that treats its subjects with dignity and playfulness. 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. It was produced by italian writer director matteo garrone whose 2008 film gomorrah was cowritten by di gregorio. A young neapolitan prostitute sophia loren begins a lifelong onagain, offagain relationship with a cynical businessman in this academy awardnominated comedy. Read about this summer italian holiday celebrated in the charming italian film pranzo di ferragosto or midaugust lunch. The salt of life, a comedy by gianni di gregorio the new.
823 1201 1224 515 151 1478 886 590 364 1363 1646 1542 15 1506 672 130 223 1164 899 1315 1003 445 811 287 166 1552 222 1204 29 1135 549 159 652 1609 861 1664 1053 224 841 449 1199 849 23 400 867 1396 1046 142 266 899