Mid-August Lunch

Here's one of those wonderful little films where "nothing happens" according to some impatient viewers—but more discerning viewers will get a great deal out of spending time with its delightful characters & the films quiet, understated appreciation of the small, sweet details of everyday life. Like another positive reviewer here, I first saw it on another platform & immediately purchased the DVD for my home collection.The plot, such as it is: Gianni lives with his 93-year old mother in their apartment & is months behind on payments. The landlord offers to erase the debt if Gianni will take in his mother for a couple of days so he can get away to the seashore. Not only does the landlord's mother arrive, so does her sister—and so does his doctor's aunt. What can Gianni do but try to make them comfortable & fix them a fine lunch?If that's the thin twig of the plot, then it bears many beautiful flowers. We get to know these four elderly women as people still in love with life, savoring those small, sweet details of the everyday all the more for being so old—but still very much alive themselves. And Gianni quickly comes to appreciate their presence. In fact, he tries to prolong their all too brief visit."Is that all?" some might say. To which I'd reply, "Isn't that more than enough?" Because it is. Perhaps it's because I'm getting older myself—if not as old as these four vivacious women—that I understand & love a movie like this quietly lively delight. To me, this is far more entertaining & moving than any blockbuster CGI action fest. This is LIFE ITSELF!Most heartily recommended!

A fun movie in Italian with subtitles. It takes the time to develop the characters; Gianni, the ever suffering son, his friend, Viking, and the wonderfully captivating ladies he has the pleasure (??, wink, wink) of caring for during Ferragosta.All of the older ladies were marvelous, and if you watch the interviews with them you understand what makes this movie so endearing.We saw this movie on another platform, and decided to buy it so we could share with friends. Everyone we have shown it to loved it.Not doing too much later, maybe I will watch again!

As usual , if you can't tolerate English subtitles, keep going. This is a foodie movie where the adult son/chef lives with his widowed mom in a flat where the mortgage/property taxes , etc. haven't been paid in a long time. Financial trouble is apparent in the daily lives of mom and son.They are dragged out of this scenario when their creditors start "trading out" lunches for what is owed, mom and chef/son resist, but realize there is no way out. What starts out as a lunch or two quickly evolves(devolves ?) into a boarding house with interesting and humorous twists and turns.i would recommend this movie if you enjoy food and witty conversation between uneasy hosts and eccentric boarders, each learning to get along with the other for the common good.

This movie is top of the line in its subtle humor. It mirrors a lot of the attitudes and ways of resolving problems that many Italians employ to get ahead. The only aspect I find disappointing, and I don't know if it is our viewer, are the hideous colors in this movie. I watched via direct streaming from Amazon and the DVD seems to have less colors, with dark colored scenes that look awful. Otherwise, if you concentrate on the plot, you will have a lot of fun.

Gianni lives with his 90-something-year-old mother, a tiny demanding woman in a big wig, and they are having money difficulties. When Gianni cannot pay for their condo fees, the building manager offers to write off the debt if Gianni will keep his own aging mama while he goes away with his mistress. Gianni does not agree, and yet somehow, after other people he owes money to find out what he is doing, he ends up with several inconvenient and fiesty old ladies in his care. Each has been used to being the matriarch of their respective families, so there is much jockeying for position along with perceived offenses to delicate feelings and sensibilities. Gianni Di Gregorio directed as well as acted in this film, and it is deliciously good, just like the wonderful wine and meals he serves his guests in the film. So good, in fact, that, just like his guests, you won't want to leave.

Like the best of Chekhov's short stories, this movie is a sliver of life and it pulls you in because however small a sliver, there's something true and honest about it. With no pretenses, the movie lands you right in the middle of Rome, in the middle of August, when the whole city (and the rest of Italy) is going on holiday...except Gianni, his ninety-something mother, and three elderly ladies left behind by their families while they go on holiday. The movie doesn't make any statements or grand commentary about the characters or about aging and death. It just puts you in the company of four older ladies who still know how to enjoy life and Gianni, who tries to both manage and keep up with them while cooking, cleaning, shopping and drinking a lot of wine!

This is a wonderful story played by real people. For those that "didn't get it", maybe you just need to be Italian to appreciate the nuances. Thought there was a region code issue but turned out to be sick DVD player. Seller (Steven's Kaleidoscope) was terrific and would highly recommend them.

loved this - Gianni Di Gregorio makes more than the best of it by actually finding joy and enjoying an experience not planned. He agrees to take on three elder ladies along with his dependent mother as a job for perks. Their social antics, visiting in the overcrowded apartment during the heat of mid-August when everyone in the area is on holiday became so ridiculous that he decides, why not have fun with the whole escapade - I still smile remembering the scene when he realized he could enjoy the impromptu celebration even though he knew he was 'had' - great acting in this small tale of normally staid and dependent elder ladies living fully.

Excellent service. Great movie.

This is a gentle Italian comedy ('Pranzo di Ferragosto' in Italian) from 2008, set in the old Roman district of Trastevere at the height of summer on the eve of Ferragosto (the annual celebration on 15th August of the Ascension of the Virgin Mary). Centred around Gianni, a bachelor in his late 50s who does not work, as he cares for his 90-year-old widowed mother full time. As he does not have very much money, he is persuaded to take in Alfredo's mother (the accountant that looks after the block of flats) for the 'festa' in payment for his debts (rent and household bills) and unbeknownst to him Alfredo's Aunt as well, whilst Alfredo swans off with a young blonde for the holiday. This just the start of Gianni's visitors which have long lasting consequences. It is a charming observation of what happens when people are put together in a cramped environment and how they cope. Recommended for a gentle and cultural evening.

No wonder this film won so many accolades. The story is gentle, sharp and perceptive all at the same time. The cast were amazing, doubly so since they were not actors at all. When I first saw Aunty Maria helping in the kitchen, I thought that they had got the character exactly right- slightly dotty elderly widow and her rambling conversation about food and family. The acting in all parts was amazing. I can't think of another film I have seen recently where the characters have been so authentic.One to watch with a glass of vino rosso and some friends who appreciate gentle humour and good characterisation.

it did what it said ion the can,, thank you

This film – ‘Pranzo di Ferragosto’ in the original Italian - is a slight and gently humorous film rather than a laugh out loud one. It tells the story of a world weary, middle-aged bachelor in his late fifties – Gianni - who lives with his mother and ends up ‘baby sitting’ four elderly women during a swelteringly hot summer in a claustrophobic flat in Rome while their families are away for the Ferragosto holidays. Not much happens and there’s not much in the way of a plot, but anyone who has ever had to look after an elderly grandmother or aunty will recognise the set up and find humour in the sometimes farcical situations that arise.Gianni is a cash-strapped, full time carer for his glamorous 90+ mother and so is obliged to spend the summer break at home with her, rather than down on the coast cooling down; then the manager of his building, Luigi – aware of his enforced ‘captivity’ - offers to postpone and partly write off some of Gianni’s service debts if Gianni will also look after his own elderly mother for the duration of the break. Luigi turns up with his aunty in tow as well as his mother. Then, in return for waiving medical fees, Gianni’s doctor asks if he can bring his mother over to join the party. All of the ladies are fussy and demanding in different ways, but Gianni has, aided by copious amounts of alcohol, infinite patience and deals with each of their problems as they arise.Gradually the barriers break down, everyone mellows and everything comes together at the end over the ‘mid August lunch’. It is a charming film and, although at the beginning it seems like a nightmare scenario, at the end you are left wanting more and sad that it has come to an end after only 75 minutes.This is the directorial debut of Gianni di Gregorio (who has a look of Robert Mitchum about him) and he is the only professional actor in it. Most of it is semi-improvised making it a lovely slice of authentic Italian life. If you love Italy or Italians, then this film will be perfect for you.