The Hope College Knickerbocker Theatre in downtown Holland will continue its tradition of showing contemporary independent films with "Mid-August Lunch" on Monday-Wednesday, Oct. 11-13, and Friday-Saturday, Oct. 15-16, at 7:30 p.m.
Winner of numerous prizes at international festivals, including Best First Film at Venice and the Satyajit Ray Award at London, plus the Golden Snail at the Academy of Food and Film in Bologna, "Mid-August Lunch" is both a warmly vibrant family drama and a delicately balanced comedy of manners.
The charismatic Gianni Di Gregorio (co-scenarist of "Gomorrah"), stars in his directorial debut "Mid-August Lunch" - a tale of good food, feisty ladies and unlikely friendships during a very Roman holiday. Broke, and armed with only a glass of wine and a wry sense of humor, middle-aged Gianni resides with his 93-year-old mother in their ancient apartment. The condo debts are mounting, but if Gianni looks after the building manager's mother during the "Pranzo di Ferragosto" (Italy's biggest summer holiday, and the Feast of the Assumption), all will be forgiven. Then the manager also shows up with an aunt, and a doctor friend appears with his mother in tow, and Gianni is challenged to keep the four lively ladies well fed and happy in the cramped quarters.
The film is unrated and is in Italian with English subtitles. It has a runtime of 75 minutes.
Tickets for all of the films are $6 for regular admission and $5 for senior citizens and children. Updated information may be obtained by calling the Knickerbocker Information Line at (616) 395-7403 or visiting www.hope.edu/arts/knick.
The Knickerbocker Theatre is located in downtown Holland at 86 E. Eighth St.