We recently caught this delightful Italian comedy at the Film Forum, where we watched it with an almost capacity crowd. It was a sweet discovery, specially on a Manhattan rainy day that became more bearable after we came out of the theater.
Gianni, a bachelor man living with his elderly mother in Rome, has a lot of financial problems. It is August, one of the hottest months of the year to be stranded in the city without any prospects of going anywhere at all. Gianni, who is facing hard financial times, is visited by Alfonso, the manager of the condominium, where he is living. This man offers Gianni a deal he can't refuse, and at the same time, he will be helping his friend, who is suffering some serious skin problem that must be taken care of. In exchange for letting his mother stay a few days, Gianni's debts will be excused.
As with anything this shady, the favor comes with strings attached. Gianni is taken aback when Alfonso arrives with Marina, his mother, and his aunt Maria. Gianni watches in horror as Alfonso and a gorgeous woman get into a convertible heading probably to a nice resort. What is he going to do? How can they keep these guests in the apartment? To compound on the problem, Gianni's own doctor asks for his help him taking in his mother, as he must attend a medical congress. Since he hardly can refuse the kind doctor, a third elderly lady, Grazia, who must keep a strict regimen, arrives to this already crowded household.
Things go bad at the beginning, but with a little bit of camaraderie and good humor, Gianni ends up cooking for the four ladies and in the process has a great time because he is kept busy trying to please everyone. As with everything Italian, there is always a light touch to the way all these people end up accepting the situation and having a great time, enjoying the company of all newly made friends.
Gianni Di Gregorio is a screen writer whose credits include a collaboration in "Gomorrah", among other films. He is trying his hand as a film director. The result is a movie that feels fresh and almost improvised. Mr. Di Gregorio's best achievement is giving his audience real people with real, everyday problems. He also makes an impression as an actor in this funny account of a Roman household during the oppressive heat of August.
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