GIULIA AND US (Noi e la Giulia) (2015) - ♦♦♦

Directed by - Edoardo Leo

Written by - Marco Bonini, Edoardo Leo (based on a book by Fabio Bartolomei)

Starring - Luca Argentero, Edoardo Leo, Claudio Amendola, Anna Foglietta, Stefano Fresi, Carlo Buccirosso

 

"A group of self-professed losers in their forties decide to take a chance and start a business with one another, despite having just met, setting up an agritourism from a decaying villa in the Italian countryside. They naively did not take into consideration the territorial law of the land, run by the Camorra, that instantly look to exploit them. Instead of giving into their criminal demands or simply run away, they spontaneously come up with an unusual plan to fight them back - by kidnapping them one by one. 

 
GIULIA AND US is the periodical comedy about a group of people seeking redemption. Despite its dealings with the delicate theme of the Italian organised crime, EDOARDO LEO's film is neither a realistic depiction of organised crime, nor does it aim to be an exposé or any kind. It is quite simply treated as a narrative element like any other. However, as a sweet and tender film, it is rather likeable because its characters are well defined and have good personalities that distinguish them from one another and fit together well, creating an entertaining driving force in the film that even takes some time to examine elements of character development. 
 

For all its good nature and original aspects, the film doesn't get many hearty laughs, but benefits from some interesting turns by its cast, with CLAUDIO AMENDOLA in the role of a veteran Communist enthusiast who just cannot stand injustice and charges his enemies holding a hammer and sickle."

 

Comedy, Italy