April

I anticipated this movie for so long, because of that awesome dancing chef. Then I watch it and he's introduced at the start, then is not seen for the rest of the movie until the very end. And only for one measly minute. And even then, it was worth it. Anyone who wants to see an absolute legend, hire this movie out, fast-forward the first hour and a half, then sit back and enjoy the dancing chef.

They should make a whole movie on him, like they fictionally do at the end of APRILE.

Two words- Dancing Chef!

Aprile (1988)

I enjoyed this film as much as Caro Diario. I thought it was hilarious, although Nanni Moretti's humour is so deadpan I suspect some people may watch this film without realising that it's supposed to be funny. Also, as someone who is interested in Italian politics but finds it confusing, I found the political parts quite interesting. Still, the film is not really about Italian politics, it's about Nanni Moretti.

Written by, directed by and starring ... i wouldn't mind that, but he's in every single scene, and that really starts to jar after a while. He's an agreeable sort of chap, talented, liberal, charming etc, but he could let one or two other people get an occasional look in.

Bore, bore, bore... We've seen it all elsewhere. Nothing was funny, nothing was new. The only 5 minutes worth watching were those showing an overcrowded rusty ship, heavy with Albanian immigrants arriving to Venice. I wish this subject had been developed further, but it wasn't. Instead we have a silly film director who does not know what he wants until he has a son and appreciates the joy of life. How true, but how banal, who cares, we all know it...

I did think it a little unkind that Silvio Berlusconi didn't get a credit here. He features enough - on television or by reputation! It's against the backdrop of the 1996 Italian elections that Nanni Moretti attempts to focus on two significant events in his life. Marginally more important is the birth of his first child, but that's only slightly ahead of his planned documentary about the aforementioned elections. Now this documentary wasn't his first choice. He was initially intent on making a musical, or some sort of revue, but now set on his new course he suffers from a director's block. The crew are poised but his brain is stalled. He's completely perplexed as he must juggle his priorities. He's man of the political left so his documentary planning is also fuelling his disdain for the future of politics in his country... Bluntly, he's between a rock and a very hard place. It's quirky and comical this film whilst taking a few free swipes at people generally out of their depth whether that be about fatherhood, politics or filmmaking. The last five minutes are maybe just a little predictably surreal and Moretti does rather monopolise the screen, but the jolly score and entertaining dialogue make for an enjoyable, if admittedly forgettable, eighty minutes of frustrated mayhem.