Te lo dico pianissimo

While there are humorous scenes, I would not characterize this film first and foremost as a comedy. Maybe a family drama, with comedic undertones.

The story is solidly built around a gay man whose ex-wife dies, leaving two almost adult children. The man's 3 sisters come to stay with their brother, to settle the kids in.

But they don't leave. And they don't quite approve of his living arrangement with another man. The sisters try to shield the children, who are already wise to their dad's relationship with the other man in the apartment.

The meddling sisters wreak havoc in the household, and the tension in the film centers on the relationships between the sisters, their brother, and the brother's lover of 15 years. The teenage kids are oddities in their own right, adding to the problems. The humor is subtle, and the story definitely has a serious, and ultimately romantic core.

An intriguing story line, as everyone struggles for control in the apartment. Even the ex-wife returns to observe, assess, and comment on the situation in the course of the film.

There are some interesting plot twists that I won't spoil in this review.

Production values are excellent. Good acting, good camera work, and really a pleasure to watch. Enjoyed all the characters, but Stefano Chiodaroli was especially enjoyable.

The film is in Italian with English subtitles. But not so many that you can't read the titles and still watch the action on screen.