Reviewed by Robert Hull
Stars Gianni Di Gregorio, Valeria De Franciscis, Marina Cacciotti, Maria Cali, Grazia Cesarini Sforza, Alfonso Santagata,
Luigi Marchetti, Marcello Ottolenghi
Written by Gianni Di Gregorio and Simone Riccardini
Certification UK U
Runtime 75 minutes
Directed by Gianni Di Gregorio
Effortless, charming and beguiling, like an evening walk that becomes a gentle, meditative stroll, Mid-August Lunch is the perfect riposte to dull, dumb summer blockbusters. Gianni Di Gregorio’s film is a lovely and lovingly made window onto the lives of just a handful of people; it’s rich characterisation highlighting how little you really get to know about people you see on the big screen.
Having experienced a similar real-world situation, Di Gregorio plays a version of himself, as Gianni, the put-upon son looking after his elderly mother in her ramshackle apartment in Rome. Gianni and his mother (Valeria De Franciscis) are behind with the rent, their bills, and are creating an escalating tab at the local store – but the most they can muster is the occasional mention that they must discuss the matter.
This changes when the apartment-block manager tells them their fellow apartment owners want them evicted – there’s no money to be found, so seemingly no solution. That is until the manager suggests that if Gianni can look after his elderly mother for a couple of days then he’ll see what financial arrangement he can wrangle for them.
This conceit is a device that ultimately sees Gianni hosting four elderly ladies in the flat, where he is at their beck and call with supplies of food and drink. The ladies are wilful, stubborn and opinionated, and look like they may drive him mad, but gradually their cheeky, chatty and wise sides reveal themselves. And, while Gianni is apparently still the trapped servant, any hints of his own unhappiness subside as this eccentric group begins to find its own rhythm and rhyme.
Mid-August Lunch has a unique, warm and lilting atmosphere, its ‘slow, enjoy the pace of life’ feel might not suit all tastes but its 75-minute duration ensures it always remains digestible. The performances have a superb naturalistic air – thanks to some female leads not being actresses – while the film exudes a comedic appeal filled with the wit and wisdom that comes from a life spent people-watching. During one beautifully languid scene Gianni listens to a lady as she drifts off to sleep saying: “I love remembering.” Mid-August Lunch is a meal that you’ll definitely savour, and remember.