Berlinale 2011
With: Gianni Di Gregorio, Valeria di Franciscis Bendoni, Alfonso Santagata
International Sales: Fandango Portobello
Distributors: France Pyramide, Benelux ABC-Cinemien, Switzerland Xenix
BERLINALE SPECIAL
House husband Gianni has many things to worry about while his retirement slips by doing boring chores for his wife, mother, daughter and pretty neighbour. But romance is not one of them. One day his old friend Alfonso, inspired by his own surprising sexual escapades, decides it’s time for Gianni to get a girlfriend and reacquaint himself with some of life’s pleasures.
About the director
Gianni Di Gregorio was born in Trastevere in Rome, where he still lives and works.
His passion for cinema started when he was a child. He spent his mornings at school and afternoons at the neighborhood cinemas, watching up to three films a day.
Originally enrolling at university to study modern literature, Gianni left before graduation to attend the Academy of Performing Arts in Rome to study with Alessandro Fersen. He subsequently graduated in theatre directing and acting and worked with various experimental theater companies.
After seeing Scorsese’s Mean Streets, he decided to leave the theatre and begin working in film as an assistant director, before moving into screenwriting.
He wrote the screenplays for several successful movies, including Sembra morto ma è solo svenuto by Felice Farina (FRIPRESCI Settimana della Critica award, Venice Film Festival ‘87) and Giovani senza pensieri by Marco Colli. In 2000 he met Matteo Garrone after seeing his first film Terra di Mezzo. Gianni went on to work as his assistant director onEstate Romana (Roman Summer), L’imbalsamatore (The Embalmer)and Primo Amore (First Love).
In 2007, with Maurizio Braucci, Ugo Chiti, Massimo Gaudioso, Roberto Saviano and Matteo Garrone, he wrote the screenplay for the award winning film Gomorrah by Matteo Garrone.
In 2008 he wrote, directed and starred in Pranzo di Ferragosto (Mid-August Lunch), which was presented at the International Critics’ Week at the Venice Film Festival 2008 and went on to win many awards including: Leone del Futuro-Premio Venezia Opera Prima "Luigi De Laurentiis"; "Francesco Pasinetti" Award for the Best Italian Film; Satyajit Ray Award for Best First Feature at the London Film Festival; the Grand Prix International Bratislava Film Festival; David Di Donatello Award for Best New Director; and Nastro d'Argento SNGCI Best New Director.