Pranzo di Ferragosto (Mid-August Lunch)

Critics Consensus

Thoughtful, warm-hearted, and delightfully free of pretense, Mid-August Lunch offers viewers a light diversion with some surprising depth.

88%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 66

70%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 3,957

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Movie Info

A man unexpectedly finds himself talking care of four women, three of whom he barely knows, in this sunny comedy from Italy. Gianni (Gianni di Gregorio) is a man in his mid-sixties who still lives with his mother; given that Valeria (Valeria De Franciscis) is well into her nineties, these days he looks after her rather than the other way around, though she remains quite spry given her age. Gianni and Valeria share an apartment in a building owned by Luigi (Alfonso Santagata); Gianni owes money on the rent, and Luigi, who wants to take off for the midsummer festivities of Ferragosto, makes him a deal -- Luigi will forgive the debt if his elderly mother, Marina (Marina Cacciotti), can stay with Gianni and Valeria for a few days. Gianni grudgingly agrees, but is upset when he discovers Luigi has also brought his aging aunt Maria (Maria Calì). Word apparently circulates that Gianni is running an informal home for the elderly, as his friend Marcello (Marcello Ottolenghi) stops by and drops off his mother, Grazia (Grazia Cesarini Sforza), for a day or two. While Gianni scrambles to look after the various needs of four elderly women, it soon becomes clear the ladies have strongly differing views on a number of subjects, making his job all the more difficult. Pranzo di Ferragosto (aka Mid-August Lunch) was written and directed by Gianni di Gregorio, who also played the harried son; it was the first directorial project for the veteran screenwriter.

Cast

Gianni Di Gregorio
as Gianni
Gianni Di Venanzo
Grazia Cesarini Sforza
as Grazia (The Doctor's Mother)
Valeria De Franciscis
as Gianni's Mother
Marina Cacciotti
as Alfonso's Mother
Maria Calì
as Aunt Maria
Alfonso Santagata
as Alfonso
Marcello Ottolenghi
as Doctor
Petre Rosu
as Barbone
Luigi Marchetti
as Vichingo
Biagio Ursitti
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News & Interviews for Pranzo di Ferragosto (Mid-August Lunch)

Critics Consensus: Wimpy Kid Gets Picked On
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Critic Reviews for Pranzo di Ferragosto (Mid-August Lunch)

All Critics (66) | Top Critics (21) | Fresh (58) | Rotten (8)

View All Critic Reviews (66)

Audience Reviews for Pranzo di Ferragosto (Mid-August Lunch)

  • Jun 10, 2012
    Warmly humorous and clever, with a leisurely pace and outstanding performances. Although it may seem like a laugh and that's it, it even reaches a pleasingly subtle depth.
    Louis R Super Reviewer
  • Aug 23, 2011
    In "Mid-August Lunch," middle-aged Gianni(Gianni Di Gregorio, who also directed and co-wrote) takes care of his mother(Valeria De Franciscis). This leaves him with precious little money to pay the bills, like the electric which has not been paid in three years. That's all right, says Alfonso(Alfonso Santagata), the condominium administrator. If Gianni takes care of his mother(Marina Cacciotti) for the night, then he will look the other way on some of the late charges. So, what choice does Gianni have? If only Alfonso had also mentioned his aunt Maria(Maria Cali)... While not what anybody would call substantial, "Mid-August Lunch" goes down easily enough as a droll and charming comedy of manners. One of the most important is to care for the elderly, but not treat them like children. Such lessons are learned on a slow-moving holiday whose rhythms are captured nicely by long takes while also getting some fine footage of Rome in the meantime.
    Walter M Super Reviewer
  • Nov 06, 2010
    Quite charming and funny. </br> </br?
    Rubia Super Reviewer
  • Mar 21, 2010
    Beguiling, if lightweight, Italian comedy about a middle aged man, living at home with his elderly mother, who as a favor to friends, ends up taking care of three more elderly women for an evening, each with their own unique quirks and personalities. A fresh, breezy, and cheerful confection, with enough charm for a film twice its length.
    Matthew L Super Reviewer
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