Maschile singolare

This is a lovely Italian romantic comedy about a "kept" young gay man who quits a relationship and gains a whole new career and lease on life. Very handsome actors and a sex/love positive message, it is a gay valentine. You will have to see the film to know what mascarpone is. Well, I didn't know. I have watched it three times. A keeper. The anglicized name is Mascarpone in case you have trouble finding it.

"Mascarpone" is a gay masterpiece; I have not seen a film like this in a very long time. Contrary to the general consensus, I believe the rating should be way higher. This film excels where most gay films fall short: character development. Every character is fully fleshed out, making their journeys deeply engaging and relatable.

Italy has been bringing some serious gay cinema lately, and "Mascarpone" is a prime example. The movie is superb, and our community needs more films like this. The story is heartfelt, the direction is impeccable, and Lorenzo Adorni is simply gorgeous. This film is a must-watch for anyone seeking quality gay cinema.

So what have we here? "Mascarpone" is an Italian LGBTQ+ remake of "An Unmarried Woman", (well, perhaps not but we are in the same ballpark), as Antonio is dumped by his husband and partner of 12 years. For the rest of the movie he's basically having sex with a number of handsome hunks presumably in the hope that one of them will turn out to be Mr. Right. What little spare time he has he spends baking and looking for the perfect Mascarpone recipe until finally he realizes....

Well, that would be telling, wouldn't it. It's obvious the attractive cast were picked for their looks and not their acting abilities though the screenplay does provide a few laugh-out-loud moments. On the one hand, too explicit for mass consumption and on the other too coy, (no full frontals), for its intended audience so it's unlikely to find a market. Not bad exactly, just a bit ho-hum.

Totally enjoyed this romp of a young gay man finding himself dumped by his lover and having to build a new life. It has some twists and turns and is always interesting to see how he will rekindle his groove. The story kept reminding me of AN UNMARRIED WOMAN, but this time with a gay perspective. The actors are all solid and not bad to look at! In the end, what remains is a stalwart screenplay that is not just entertaining, but also one that makes you think about your own choices along the way.

This film out of Italy deals with a man's fork in the road as he turns 30, uncertain of what his path forward is. Antonio, who has been in a relationship since high school with Lorenzo, is in for a rude awakening when he's suddenly thrust into the uncertain world of 'single hood' after Lorenzo unceremoniously dumps him after 12 years. Antonio didn't see this coming. He's now on his own, feeling his way without the life tools he didn't learn having been sheltered for so long. He meets some interesting characters along the way. Denis, though very different, becomes his closest friend, helping him to find work and a place to live. Through him, he meets Luca, a bakery owner who hires Antonio since he has expressed a strong interest and talent in baking. The writing is very good, as are the direction and acting. The three main characters blend well together despite their very opposite backgrounds and natures. They support each other and help Antonio to finally grow up and cast his own shadow rather than being in other people's. I thoroughly enjoyed this film, especially the interplay between the characters who grow to love each other.

This picture is somewhat reminiscent of 1978's 'An Unmarried Woman' with Jill Clayburgh similar to that film's Antonio. The ending scene of 'Mascarpone' especially reminded me of that '78 movie. Bravo!