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The 2011 Italian Film Festival featured Mid-August Lunch, written, directed and staring Gianni Di Gregorio, which was the surprise hit of the entire Festival. This year Di Gregorio is back with Gianni e lo Donne, literal translation Gianni and the women, but using an English title of “Salt of Life”. Di Gregorio plays Gianni, recently retired and completely unprepared for an unscripted existence. He hangs around the house a lot and yet he doesn’t seem to spend much time there with anyone but the dog and his daughter’s mooching boyfriend. But he just doesn’t know what to do with himself. He’s always had his employer to give reason to his life. Now, in an obvious attempt to create the appearance of being needed, he does the shopping, runs errands for his aging mother, and walks the dog. Feeling “invisible” creates a difficult existence for Gianni, as movie patrons watch him search for that excitement that is missing in his life. When his lawyer buddy tells him the thing that’s missing in his life is a mistress, Gianni decides to give it a whirl. This movie is very funny and it is also very thoughtful about people who feel invisible and without meaning in their lives. Gianni e lo Donne features great colorful characters and as well as one of Italy’s leading men in modern film-making. Running Time: 118 minutes |