IL PRANZO DI FERRAGOSTO (THE LATE LUNCH)

The film opens with a middle-aged man reading The Three Musketeers to his elderly mother. We are introduced to Gianni, unemployed, who looks after his mother with great attention. He goes out to buy supplies from a genial storekeeper who gives him credit and chats and drinks wine (which he does throughout the film) with the layabout friend, Viking. When the manager of the apartment block comes to visit him, he asks him to take his mother for two days (giving generous allowances and cancelling a lot of the debt). Gianni’s mother agrees – because it is well worthwhile. However, she is very sociable and when Alfonso comes with his mother and brings along Aunt Maria, she welcomes them both. Then Marcello, Gianni’s doctor, comes for a check-up and asks him to take his mother for the day because he is on night duty.

Gianni is amusingly long-suffering. He makes them an excellent meal, gets the rooms ready, is harassed through most of the night by the women, Alfonso’s mother being flirtatious and wanting him to stay, Maria not causing trouble but getting various hats on with his mother, and Marcello’s mother being a non-stop talker after she stole the casserole from the fridge.

They then decide that since it is Ferragosto (the middle of summer, it was the 15th), they should have a festive dinner. Out Gianni goes, accompanied by Viking, finally getting some fish from the men with rods in the Tiber. He makes them a wonderful meal, they celebrate and toast. When he tries to ring the doctor to get his mother, they rebel – and also offer him some money so that they can stay. He offers to cook them a light evening meal.

The film is light-hearted, delightful for an Italian audience who will recognise the types but it is fairly universal in its appeal. The characters are warm, even if they would be rather vexing or irritation in real life.

1.An entertaining Roman comedy? The simplicity of the plot? Gianni and his mother? Taking on the other women for the holiday? The meal in celebration? Their idiosyncrasies?

2.The Roman setting, the hot days? The apartments, the streets, the sights of Rome from the back of the bike, the Tiber and the fishermen? The shops? The apartments? The jaunty Italian score?

3.The introduction to Gianni and his mother, reading The Three Musketeers, Gianni’s patience, the mother wondering what D'Artagnan looked like and rejecting him because of his beaked nose? Continuing the story?

4.Gianni, the day, going out, buying supplies, having a drink of wine, chatting with Viking? Meeting Alfonso, the discussions about the debts? Taking in his mother? The visit of the doctor, his need for a check-up, asking for his mother to come as well?

5.Gianni’s mother, old, putting on the makeup, the hostess? Welcoming Alfonso’s mother, her testing out the bed, her chatter? Aunt Maria there as well? Gianni seeing Alfonso going off with a young woman instead of to his family? Marcello’s mother?

6.The meal, Gianni cooking it, their enjoying it?

7.The night, his mother trying on the hats with Maria? Marina(**??) and her chatter, flirting? Marcello’s mother and her stealing the casserole, her incessant chatter? Gianni falling asleep?

8.The decision about the meal for Ferragosto? Gianni and Viking going around the city, getting the fish, preparing the meal?

9.The celebration of the meal, Viking, enjoying it, going for a siesta? The women chatting, sharing stories, memories? The toasts?

10.Gianni preparing to ring Marcello, his mother giving him the money, their wanting to stay, his offering to prepare them the meal?

11.Humorous insights into the foibles of human nature?