Exoticalot People are voting emotionally.

Ameriatch One of the best films i have seen

Protraph Lack of good storyline.

Tyreece Hulme One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

classicsoncall A thoroughly charming and introspective movie, focusing on a middle-aged man (Gianni di Gregorio) and a quartet of elderly ladies who move in to his tiny apartment in a trade with the administrator for falling behind on his condominium fees and rent. One of them is his mother, she was already there of course, and if I had to guess, the actress Valeria De Franciscis has to be one of the oldest, if not THE oldest woman ever to appear in a movie. And yet, she appeared in a couple more before she passed away earlier this year! As the story starts out, you don't feel very much empathy for Gianni as he appears to be lazy and almost a con man in the way he shirks his financial responsibilities. But as the picture progresses, and the overnight visitors arrive, it appears that Gianni has to work harder at being a good housekeeper than any salaried job might require. Yet he does it with such equanimity and good spirit that it's impossible to judge him as a ne'er do well.Though you wouldn't classify this film a comedy, there are a number of humorous moments that occur involving all the players. I got a kick out of Gianni spiking the chamomile to put the ladies to sleep so he could get some rest himself. Gianni's mother came up with that 'staff of command' business I never heard of before, and Marina was a hoot, getting frisky with Gianni and looking for a little naughty attention if I may be so bold to say. Grazia with her forbidden macaroni casserole was another comical event causing Gianni untold frustration in keeping all of these diverse personalities in check so they wouldn't over extend or hurt themselves.The finale had some bittersweet tenderness to accompany it, as the women, some of whom fell out of sorts with each other to begin with, wound up being best of friends who wanted to preserve their moment of happiness around the dinner table forever. With it's quiet denouement, the movie allows us to reflect on the passing of time and how growing older doesn't have to be a time of loneliness and sorrow, a lesson we all expect to face some day.

jdesando Ordinarily I praise minimalism without reservation, but with Mid-August Lunch I must protest: It's too short (75 minutes) because the elderly ladies are precious and meant to be expanded as characters. This short-story like drama depicts a middle-aged man, Giani (played charmingly by writer/director Gianni Di Gregorio), babysitting four lively ladies mostly in their eighties.Not much happens, a characteristic of minimalism, except an AWOL and attempted seduction by the randiest and most youthful of the ladies. Otherwise, Giani goes to the local bodega to buy supplies and imbibe wine while he girds himself for the day of his charges.It's all pleasant, local color with a hint of a theme about the dignity of the elderly and the importance of memory.

richard-1967 We saw this gem of a small movie at our local preview club. What a gem! If you're looking for big-issue movies or blockbusters, forget this one. This is a simple, very Italian story about a man who lives with and takes care of his mother, and the surprising joy he, mama, and their new friends receive during the Italian holiday of "ferragosto," when everyone who's anyone leaves Rome on holiday.In fact, having spent a good deal of time in Rome, I can say with confidence that this movie is more than just Italian. It's as Roman as the Forum, Piazza Navona, or Giolitti's ice cream.The cast, largely filled by non-professionals, is wonderful, sweet, and very real. Our "hero," if you can call him that, wonderfully played by director and writer Gianni de Gregorio, has the perfect puzzled and world-weary face for this (non-)journey in the Roman mid-summer heat. He's reminiscent of Jerry Orbach with a major Italian shrug.There's nothing trite here, and nothing not to love.

MLogo I loved this movie! It's a little movie that totally captivated me. It's the story of a middle-aged unmarried man who lives in Rome with his mother. Money is obviously tight but they seem to live a very nice life. Unfortunately, the condominium bills keep piling up. So when the head of the condominium offers to forgive the expenses in return for his caring for the condo head's mother for 2 days (over Ferragosto), he agrees. When the mother shows up, an aunt also comes - obviously a packaged deal. Through another act of fate, another elderly woman comes to share the overnight experience. The women are wonderful as is the main actor (Gianni DiGregorio) - he is also the writer and director. He was at the showing I attended and shared some interesting info. These women are not actors. One is his aunt and one is a family friend. He found the other two at a home for the elderly. Said he interviewed 100 women and had trouble deciding because so many were so wonderful. The crew was exhausted at the end of the day - these women were on a roll - and all were over 90 years old. The apartment in which he lived was actually the apartment in which he had lived with his mother. This was a low- budget film which was one of the reasons that he starred in the film, i.e., he couldn't afford to hire a "real" actor. Thank you Gianni for a wonderful movie!