Baci e abbracci

"Baci e abbracci" is the final top of a wonderful Italian author. Paolo Virzì is grown up, step by step, and now he has reached the complete maturity of cinema expression and story telling. The direction of an enormous group of no-professional actors (except for Paolantoni) is an essay of perfect skill. And the film is tender, sensitive, amusing, according to the best tradition of Italian acid comedies. Monicelli, Germi, and a bit of Fellini (impressive the scene about the false Holy Family) are behind Virzì and sustain him, but now Virzì is a personal, singular Author. And by this film he tells us about the Illusion, the need of Illusion, and the Beauty of No-Truth. Thank you, Paolo!!! Thanks to you now Italian cinema can breathe again!!!

This could be a true story and it would be wonderful, if it really happens. It is the story of a group of people in despair (Mario with a failed restaurant and three brothers with a breeding of ostriches near Cecina) who casually meet together. Mario is the name of a man, who could save the breeding from the end and when the brothers meet the failed Mario (instead of the rich) at the station, they believe he is their savior. Mario would like to explain, but when he finds love and friendship in that big and fool family, he prefers to continue his lie. At the end of the Christmas night, they'll discover the truth, but the end will be happy and beautiful. It's a tender comedy, which remembers other masterpieces of Italian cinema at his best like "Miracolo a Milano". It's a story of a friendship (even if there's interest behind their kindness) with a great Francesco Paolantoni. A moment to remember is the one "A Natale non si soffre più!" (At Christmas, we won't suffer anymore!). Fantastic: 10 out of 10.

This movie is nice, if you like Tuscany you'll enjoy the landscape, the language. If you're good-hearted you'll perhaps spread a tear. But, if you've seen Virzi's previous movie,Ovosodo, you'll step out of the theater a little disappointed. Anyway, it's worth seeing it!