Pranzo di ferragosto

Possibly the best comedy I have seen this year. The English title is the literal translation of the original: Mid August Lunch. Not sure why "lunch" is there but "ferragosto" refers to an ancient festival around thet 15th of August when all self-respecting Romans have fled the heat of the city.

Except those that cannot afford to go, such as the protagonist, the middle aged Gianni, who lives with his ancient (93) mother in an apartment for which they are behind with the rent. A friend is prepared to help them out on the condition that they take in his elderly mother as a lodiger, while the friend is away on amorous business. As a result of some other events, Gianni ends up as the host of four old women.

Not all of them are well-behaved and they cause him a lot of problems. E.g. he has a hard time fighting off the advances of one of them. Admirably, he never looses his temper and I really appreciated how he was able to pamper all of his guests, not in the least with his fantastic cooking.

This was one of those movies that I fondly remember long after I have seen them: ☆☆☆☆☆