Um Dia Para Não Esquecer

I liked this film very much and was touched by this well casted family reunion. Well balanced; often funny and often sad, Giulietta Masina as the 70 years old mother who reunites her children for a last meal on the recently sold family estate, gives a magistral interpretation. The pacing of the film and the editing is well done. Although I did not know any of the actors they made me feel I was part of their family and I came to know their characters as well as the individuals in my own family reunions. We received this film as a Xmas gift and it took us one month to even consider running it. Actually I forced my eldest son to sit and watch. Soon my whole family of six were glued to the screen til the end. Nice isn't it?

The Italian widow Bertille (Giulietta Masina) decides to sell her real estate in Loiret in the countryside of France and organizes a family lunch party. Bertille wishes to split the money among her sons and daughters to avoid any future struggle in the hand down. She will move with her dog to the house of her daughter Christiane (Véronique Silver) and she asks to her family to take souvenirs from the house to recall their childhood. Along the day of a typical Latin family reunion, there are arguments, gossips and critics. Christiane does not understand why her mother spent a large amount to advertise the selling of the property in more than thirty newspapers for a long period. In the end of the day, Bertille overhears a whistle and goes to a small cave in the top of the real estate. There she meets her beloved youngest son Raphaël (Maxime Leroux), who participated in a heist where a person was killed, and now let her go in peace.

"Aujourd'hui peut-être..." is a touching film about an old woman that feels compelled to resolve unfinished issues from their past, particularly with her youngest son. The unknown film is simple and beautiful, and any Latin will certainly understand the behavior of her family and might have lived some similar situation. The conclusion is heartbreaking and ambiguous. This movie is also the swan song of the great Italian actress Giulietta Masina, who gives another fine performance. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "Um Dia Para Não Esquecer" ("A Day to not Be Forgotten").