Mid-August Lunch (2008)

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

15 wins & 10 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Valeria De Franciscis	...	Madre di Gianni
Marina Cacciotti	...	Marina - la madre di Luigi
Maria Calì	...	Maria
Grazia Cesarini Sforza	...	Grazia
Alfonso Santagata	...	Alfonso
Luigi Marchetti	...	Vichingo
Biagio Ursitti	...	Luigi
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:

italy | august | wine | aunt | elderly | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in Maltin on Movies: Secretariat (2010)

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Soundtracks

Here Comes Your Man
Written by Frank Black (as Black Francis)
Performed by Pixies (uncredited)
(P) 1997 Licensed courtesy of 4AD Ltd
By arrangement with Beggars Group Media Ltd
© Rice and Beans Music
Edizioni per l'Italia : Universal/MCA Music Italy Srl

User Reviews

If you love your mother, Italy, or Italian movies

To help pay some debts, Gianni, an unemployed, single, middle aged man, agrees to look after four very old women for a night. Antics DO NOT ensue, as you might expect, but friendship food,and joy. The director, Gianni Di Gregorio, wrote it, acted in it, used his own apartment, based it on an incident in his own life, and then and cast the women from hundreds of non-professionals. The result is a unique and brilliant short story of a film. It was pointed out that August 15 is Feast of the Assumption, and that in religious mythology Mary "having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory". The old women in this movie are also ascending to heaven without death, and the movie glories in the blessings and quirks of old age. If you love your mother, Italy, or Italian movies – see it!

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Italy] Official site [United States]

Country:

Italy

Language:

Italian

Release Date:

5 September 2008 (Italy)

Also Known As:

The Ferragosto Dinner

Filming Locations:

Trastevere, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Box Office

Budget:

EUR500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,090, 21 March 2010

Gross USA:

$675,299

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$9,524,517

Company Credits

Production Co:

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

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1