Mid-August Lunch (2008)
"Pranzo di ferragosto" (original title)

Gianni is a middle-aged man living in Rome with his imposing and demanding elderly mother. His only outlet from her and the increasing debt into which they are sinking, are the increasingly... See full summary »

Director:

Gianni Di Gregorio

Writers:

Gianni Di Gregorio (story), Simone Riccardini (story),

Stars:

Valeria De Franciscis, Marina Cacciotti, Maria Calì

8 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Valeria De Franciscis	...	Madre di Gianni
Marina Cacciotti	...	Madre di Alfonso
Maria Calì	...	Maria
Grazia Cesarini Sforza	...	Grazia
Alfonso Santagata	...	Alfonso
Luigi Marchetti	...	Vichingo
Biagio Ursitti
Petre Rosu	...	Barbone
Gianni Di Gregorio	...	Gianni
Marcello Ottolenghi	...	Amico dottore

Storyline

Gianni is a middle-aged man living in Rome with his imposing and demanding elderly mother. His only outlet from her and the increasing debt into which they are sinking, are the increasingly frequent quiet sessions at the local tavern. As an Oriental saying goes, 'Moments of crisis are moments of opportunities'. These appear during the celebration of the holiday of Ferragosto on 15 August. That's when everybody leaves town to have fun. Opportunity knocks on Gianni's door in the most unexpected way,

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Plot Keywords:

august | mother | elderly | dinner | cook | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Official Sites:

Fandango [it] Le Pacte [fr]

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

5 September 2008 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Ferragosto Dinner

Filming Locations:

Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

€500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$13,090 (USA) (19 March 2010)

Gross:

$673,721 (USA) (3 September 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Archimede, Ministero per i Beni e le Attività Culturali (MiBAC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Maltin on Movies: Secretariat (2010)

User Reviews

Like visiting your aunt's for tea

This gentle movie, about a middle-aged man left caring for some elderly relatives (and non-relatives) during a public holiday, is notable for some fine performances from a truly aged cast; at least one member was 94 when the film was made. It's quite perceptive about the way that old people interact; and it's younger male lead (played by the writer and director) is also shrewdly drawn. What there isn't is any real plot beyond the set-up: there's almost unlimited potential for disaster here, but none of it ultimately happens. The result is mild, in places amusing, but something short of riveting: rather like visiting an elderly aunt's for tea.