The film is about a Roman man named Gianni who lives with his 93 year old mother in an old apartment in Rome, Italy. He hasn't paid rent or maintenance in years. In order to settle his debt, he agrees to take elder Italian women like his mother whose families go on holiday or vacation abroad leaving them behind in Rome. Instead they stay at Gianni's apartment with his mother. The guest goes from one to four quickly. Soon the apartment is filled with laughter and life again. The four women are very distinct in personalities but they get along. This film is very short about 75 minutes or so. The cast including the elder actresses do a splendid job in their roles. The setting of Rome, Italy is wonderful where you see how Romans live for real.

This gentle movie, about a middle-aged man left caring for some elderly relatives (and non-relatives) during a public holiday, is notable for some fine performances from a truly aged cast; at least one member was 94 when the film was made. It's quite perceptive about the way that old people interact; and it's younger male lead (played by the writer and director) is also shrewdly drawn. What there isn't is any real plot beyond the set-up: there's almost unlimited potential for disaster here, but none of it ultimately happens. The result is mild, in places amusing, but something short of riveting: rather like visiting an elderly aunt's for tea.

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.

We recently caught this delightful Italian comedy at the Film Forum, where we watched it with an almost capacity crowd. It was a sweet discovery, specially on a Manhattan rainy day that became more bearable after we came out of the theater.Gianni, a bachelor man living with his elderly mother in Rome, has a lot of financial problems. It is August, one of the hottest months of the year to be stranded in the city without any prospects of going anywhere at all. Gianni, who is facing hard financial times, is visited by Alfonso, the manager of the condominium, where he is living. This man offers Gianni a deal he can't refuse, and at the same time, he will be helping his friend, who is suffering some serious skin problem that must be taken care of. In exchange for letting his mother stay a few days, Gianni's debts will be excused.As with anything this shady, the favor comes with strings attached. Gianni is taken aback when Alfonso arrives with Marina, his mother, and his aunt Maria. Gianni watches in horror as Alfonso and a gorgeous woman get into a convertible heading probably to a nice resort. What is he going to do? How can they keep these guests in the apartment? To compound on the problem, Gianni's own doctor asks for his help him taking in his mother, as he must attend a medical congress. Since he hardly can refuse the kind doctor, a third elderly lady, Grazia, who must keep a strict regimen, arrives to this already crowded household.Things go bad at the beginning, but with a little bit of camaraderie and good humor, Gianni ends up cooking for the four ladies and in the process has a great time because he is kept busy trying to please everyone. As with everything Italian, there is always a light touch to the way all these people end up accepting the situation and having a great time, enjoying the company of all newly made friends.Gianni Di Gregorio is a screen writer whose credits include a collaboration in "Gomorrah", among other films. He is trying his hand as a film director. The result is a movie that feels fresh and almost improvised. Mr. Di Gregorio's best achievement is giving his audience real people with real, everyday problems. He also makes an impression as an actor in this funny account of a Roman household during the oppressive heat of August.