90
The Hollywood Reporter
A gem whose intelligent, gentle, deadpan humor is entirely irresistible.
Mid-August Lunch (Pranzo di ferragosto)
Critic Rating
(read reviews)User Rating
- Italy
- 2008
- · 75m
Director
Gianni Di Gregorio
Cast
Gianni Di Gregorio,
Valeria De Franciscis,
Maria Calì,
Marina Cacciotti,
Grazia Cesarini Sforza,
Luigi Marchetti
Genre
Comedy
Middle-aged man Gianni lives in Rome with his elderly mother. As their unpaid condo fees rise, Gianni’s landlord, Alfonso comes to him with an offer. If Gianni agrees to take care of Alfonso’s ailing mother, he will relieve him of some of his debt. As other members of the community discover this, they begin asking Gianni the same favor.
Stream Mid-August Lunch
What are critics saying?
90
The New York Times by Stephen Holden
A slender Chekhovian vignette about the joys and regrets of old age and the pleasures of sociability.
90
The Hollywood Reporter by Natasha Senjanovic
A gem whose intelligent, gentle, deadpan humor is entirely irresistible.
88
Boston Globe by Wesley Morris
The movie is a perfect blend of calm execution and uninflected farce.
80
Time Out
Thankfully, the actor-director prepares this potential recipe for hokeyness with all-natural ingredients, casting four of the feistiest biddies he could find, who are all the more endearing for being unadorned.
80
Variety
A surefire pleaser for crowds of a certain age.
80
Boxoffice Magazine
It may be difficult for the youth-obsessed American culture to appreciate the quiet joys rendered in this Italian charmer. But, given the increasing dominion of the Baby-Boomer Generation--hungry for life-affirming images of old age--Mid-August Lunch could prove a sleeper-in-the-making.
80
Empire by David Parkinson
The semi-improvised performances and gently nostalgic tone makes this endearing and captivating.
80
Arizona Republic by Richard Nilsen
The film is a slice of life, and although nothing earthshaking happens, at only 75 minutes long, it never quite tries your patience either.
80
Los Angeles Times by Kenneth Turan
The whole thing is as satisfying as a meal at a slow food restaurant, and when Gianni's mother gratefully tells her son, "you mellow these hours," we wholeheartedly agree.
80
Time Out by Kevin B. Lee
Thankfully, the actor-director prepares this potential recipe for hokeyness with all-natural ingredients, casting four of the feistiest biddies he could find, who are all the more endearing for being unadorned.
80
Variety by Jay Weissberg
A surefire pleaser for crowds of a certain age.
80
Boxoffice Magazine by Cathleen Roundtree
It may be difficult for the youth-obsessed American culture to appreciate the quiet joys rendered in this Italian charmer. But, given the increasing dominion of the Baby-Boomer Generation--hungry for life-affirming images of old age--Mid-August Lunch could prove a sleeper-in-the-making.
75
The A.V. Club by Keith Phipps
It’s a trifle, but a trifle that sticks.
75
The Globe and Mail (Toronto) by Liam Lacey
Everything about Mid-August Lunch is simple and unpretentious, from the black-out scene transitions to the folk-dance score, as the four isolated, elderly women, over a couple of days and meals, become a circle of companions.
60
Village Voice
Watching this lauded but fatally slight comedy of manners about a middle-aged Italian who finds himself caring for four spunky old dames, it's hard to believe writer, director, and star Gianni Di Gregorio also co-wrote the bloody mafia hit "Gomorrah."
Loading recommendations...
Loading recommendations...