Rent Mid-August Lunch (2008)

3.5 of 5 from 166 ratings
1h 15min
Rent Mid-August Lunch Online DVD & Blu-ray Rental
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Synopsis:
In this sparkling directorial debut from acclaimed screenwriter Gianni Di Gregorio he cast himself as a middle-aged son of an aging widow and encounters 24 hours of chaos in the company of her and a small group of senior citizens. Gregorio's part-autobiographical tale delves into the richness, vitality and strengths of the elderly and presents us with a fascinating and comical look of the ever too familiar relationship between a mother and her son.
Actors:
, Marina Cacciotti, Maria Calì, Grazia Cesarini Sforza, , Luigi Marchetti, Biagio Ursitti, Petre Rosu, ,
Directors:
Writers:
Gianni Di Gregorio, Simone Riccardini
Studio:
Artificial Eye Film Company Ltd.
Genres:
Comedy
Collections:
10 Films to Watch if You Like: Amarcord
Countries:
Italy
Awards:

2008 Venice Film Festival Lion of the Future

BBFC:
Release Date:
07/12/2009
Run Time:
75 minutes
Languages:
Italian Dolby Digital 5.1
Subtitles:
English
DVD Regions:
Region 2
Formats:
Pal
Aspect Ratio:
Widescreen 1.78:1 / 16:9
Colour:
Colour
Bonus:
  • Interview with director Gianni Di Gregorio
  • Theatrical Trailer

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Reviews (3) of Mid-August Lunch

Lovely, genuinely funny Italian film with lots of wicked old ladies - Mid-August Lunch review by PV

Spoiler Alert
06/06/2013

I really liked this film. It's simple - but funny. It works.

The writer/director also stars as a middle-aged man trapped in his life of caring for his mother (like people I know). A couple of his friends are in the same position, but as they have to work or travel, ask him to take their mothers and aunts - so now the poor man has 4 or 5 elderly women to look after and feed: some task! They get the better of him of course in lots of ways - as the man makes them food and dulls his stress with glass after glass of wine...

Some great, true and funny lines from the old women - which are so genuine and real - are laugh out loud funny to anyone who has ever looked after an elderly relative. For those who are younger and don't appreciate the humour of the elderly, it's best not to rent this movie; but for older and more experienced types, this movie is a gem. My only criticism is that it's too short and ends too soon - but it makes a change from the grand finales in happy clappy Hollywood fare.

I rate this as 4.5 stars because I really enjoyed watching the simple set up and the great lines - and I love Italy too (not sure where it was filmed though). A nice little film.

3 out of 3 members found this review helpful.

Funny, gentle and moving - Mid-August Lunch review by JA

Spoiler Alert
21/04/2016

I wasn't sure whether I would find this film too self-indulgent based on the plot summary and one of the reviews here. In the interviews included on the DVD one of the cast, who is an amateur and a friend of the director, reveals he didn't think it'd be a success when they were making it. Another member talks about it not being what you expect of a film. Di Gregorio has focused in on a slice of (Italian) life you don't normally see, observing ordinariness and drawing out what makes us happy at any age. As with the first reviewer I found it funny and also uplifting.

There were 2 other benefits for me. Shots of parts of Rome where I have stayed: Monteverde Vecchio and Trastevere and listening to the dialogue. As this was not a fast paced action film, it was relatively easy for me as an intermediate level student of Italian to follow the dialogue. The interviews with Di Gregorio and cast members were also very easy to follow as they spoke clearly and were interesting and enjoyable. Because of the nature of the film I was surprised to discover Di Gregorio was the screenwriter on films like Gomorrah, clearly a man with range. I'll now try renting Salt of Life.

2 out of 2 members found this review helpful.

Batchelor Old Man - Mid-August Lunch review by JD

Spoiler Alert
18/11/2011

A 60ish year old Italian batchelor man lives with his mother, is unemployed but drinks good wine all day. 2 other old women stay for 2 days. Not much of a plot. It is nicely shot in an old village but a bit dreamy and pointless.

0 out of 3 members found this review helpful.

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