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Total Film: The Modern Guide to The Movies

Reviews

An intimate look at some Italians in their twilight years

Jul 28th 2009 By Tom Dawson

Gomorrah screenwriter Gianni Di Gregorio flexes his versatility with this charming directorial debut.

Unfolding over a hot August bank holiday weekend in Rome, it follows middle-aged, wine-loving Gianni (Di Gregorio again), who’s reluctantly looking after four old ladies in his apartment, including his 93-yearold widowed mother (Valeria De Franciscis).

It’s a warmly observed tale that treats its spirited elderly characters with humanity, acknowledging both their vulnerability and their playfulness.

Appealingly acted by a mostly non-professional cast and propelled by a moving score, Mid-August Lunch proves how small can indeed be beautiful.