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Gomorrah screenwriter Gianni Di Gregorio flexes his versatility with this charming directorial debut.
Unfolding over a hot August bank holiday weekend in Rome, it follows middle-aged, wine-loving Gianni (Di Gregorio again), who’s reluctantly looking after four old ladies in his apartment, including his 93-yearold widowed mother (Valeria De Franciscis).
It’s a warmly observed tale that treats its spirited elderly characters with humanity, acknowledging both their vulnerability and their playfulness.
Appealingly acted by a mostly non-professional cast and propelled by a moving score, Mid-August Lunch proves how small can indeed be beautiful.
