Mid-August Lunch (originally released as Pranzo di ferragosto) is a 2008 Italian comedy-drama and the directorial debut of Italian actor and screenwriter Gianni Di Gregorio. It was produced by Italian writer-director Matteo Garrone whose 2008 film Gomorrah was co-written by Di Gregorio. It currently is being distributed in the US by Zeitgeist Films.

Plot

Gianni (Gianni Di Gregorio), who is struggling to pay their flat's communal charges, is looking after his 93-year-old mother during Italy's biggest summer holiday, Ferragosto. He makes end meet by looking after other elderly women for the holidays while their families go away, including the mothers of his landlord and doctor, who will forgive his debts in exchange.

Awards and nominations

The film won the Grand Prix Award and the Audience Award at the International Film Festival Bratislava, and also won the FIPRESCI Award. It was awarded the "Luigi De Laurentiis" Award for a First Feature Film at the 65th Venice Film Festival in 2008. Additionally, it won awards at several other film festivals including the David Di Donatello Awards, the Satyajit Ray Award at the London Film Festival, and the Golden Snail award at the Academy of Food and Film in Bologna.

Cast