User reviews

From beginning to end, an extraordinary movie. It's a poem translated into film. The nostalgia for the old times is subtle and appropriate, enveloping every scene almost with pervading accuracy.

Post war Italy, practically derelict and on its knees, where everyone is trying to survive no matter how and yet life goes implacably on.

Every frame is perfection. The script is simply delicious, so different, so quietly developed and so attractively displayed for our enjoyment, compelling us to be interested in the life of every single character.

And the Italian language spoken with such precision and accuracy that not a single word is lost or missed, by the whole cast!

Katia Ricciarelli --the well known Italian soprano-- as a fantastic actress here, playing the mother of a not very nice character --Neri Marcorè, splendid-- a son totally devoid of any standards of morality.

The half wit in this tale, fantastically portrayed by Antonio Albanese; the two old ladies, with incredibly beautiful and robust voices --Marisa Merlini and Angela Luce-- etching two impeccably funny characters.

Robert Madison --Enzo Fiermonte, the once 'flash in the pan' new promise of the screen-- believable in a very difficult role (in real life he's the son of Guy Madison) and of course, the Director --Pupi Avati-- of this miraculously simple and embraceable film; yes, embraceable because it's like and old friend, with scenes and dialogues that we already lived in another life, in another era, like a sudden smell that brings Goldilocks memories to the present.

What an excellent touch Avati has to produce a truly different and natural story with every day life components and yet passionately absorbing!

A must see in my agenda.