The third of four Italian releases this week – they’ve all moved straight from Venice to the cinemas – is Pranzo di Ferragosto, a comedy that’s mainly notable for being the debut directorial effort of Gianni di Gregorio, the co-writer of Gomorra. This, though, is a very different film, a comedy that, according to Cineuropa, has a story that runs something like this:
Despite the fact he is a middle-aged man, Gianni lives in an old house in the centre of Rome with his mother, a woman of faded nobility who tyrannises him and leaves him only enough free time to go to the tavern. On the eve of the Feast of the Assumption holiday, the apartment block manager – aware of Gianni’s enforced “captivity” – suggests he look after his own mother for a couple of days, in return for the waiver of all the unpaid utility bills. When he turns up at his house also accompanied by his old aunt, Gianni feels rather ill. He therefore pays a visit to his doctor friend for a check-up, but even the latter leaves his old mother in Gianni’s care for the Feast of the Assumption…
This picked up an award at Venice, but it’s impact at the box office has been less notable, taking just €130K. However, and it’s a big however, it’s been showing at less cinemas than any of the other big new releases, meaning that, per cinema, it’s actually taken more money than any other film in Italy bar Kung Fu Panda. Expect it’s release to be extended…