Movie: The Salt of LifeRelease Date: March 2, 2012 (limited)
Studio: Zeitgeist Films
Director: Gianni Di Gregorio
Screenwriter: Gianni Di Gregorio, Valerio Attanasio
Starring: Gianni Di Gregorio, Valeria De Franciscis, Alfonso Santagata
Genre: Comedy
Official Website: ZeitgeistFilms.com/TheSaltofLife
IMDB Rating: 6.0
Story: Italian filmmaker Gianni Di Gregorio is a little like his compatriot Nanni Moretti – he writes, directs and stars in his own idiosyncratic movies. There is a semi-autobiographical feel to Di Gregorio’s films as they deal with the regrets, longings, frustrations and mid-life crises of a man approaching old age. After a lifetime of acting in the theatre, working as an assistant director and screenwriter (the blistering crime drama Gomorrah, etc), Di Gregorio came to film directing late, making his debut at the age of 60 with Mid-August Lunch. His sophomore film, co-written with Valerio Attanasio, is a sharply written, poignant, melancholic and bittersweet comedy, which explores a number of similar themes.
In The Salt Of Life, the director himself tackles the role of Gianni, his cinematic alter ego, a retired 60-year-old who sees himself as still leading an active life. Not for him is the habit of sitting around outside the corner store talking about sports and other trivial matters with a number of other sad and miserable senior citizens.
Although he is surrounded by family – his wife (Elisabetta Piccolomini), from whom he is separated, his daughter (played by his real life daughter Teresa) and her slacker pot-smoking hippy boyfriend Michelangelo – he still feels lonely and unfulfilled. He runs various errands for his neighbours, and constantly worries about his elderly mother (feisty 96-year-old Valeria De Franciscis, reprising her role from the first film) who lives in an aged care facility.
Then his macho lawyer friend Alfonso (Alfonso Santagata) suggests casually that he should find himself a young mistress, “like every other senior Italian male.” Amongst those he has romantic notions for are his mother’s pretty young carer (Kristina Cepraga), the ditzy girl who lives on the floor below (Aylin Prandi), the recently divorced daughter of one of his mother’s friends, and a former friend from his schooldays. There is also an expensive and embarrassing double date with Alfonso and two pretty blond twins (Laura and Silvia Squizzato).
Despite his best efforts, Gianni just doesn’t have any success, and his attempts to find love end in disaster. Gianni completely misreads the situations and their attitude towards him.
Like his first film, The Salt Of Life is filmed in the working-class district of Trastevere, where di Gregorio was born and raised, and these locations add authenticity to the material. The jaunty soundtrack from Ratchev and Carratello adds to the upbeat atmosphere. There is a genuine sense of affection for many of the characters here. Most of the characters share their first name with that of the actors playing them, which further adds to the heightened reality of the film. The dialogue has a natural feel and rhythm that suggests much of it was improvised.
In particular, De Franciscis is a stand out, and she has a wonderful scene stealing presence as Gianni’s poker playing mother. With his hang dog expression, world weary attitude, air of decency, cynical observations, and a hint of vulnerability, Di Gregorio seems like an Italian cross between Robert Mitchum and Law & Order’s Jerry Orbach. But his self-effacing style is also reminiscent of Woody Allen.
This slight, gentle comedy lacks any big laughs, and some in the audience may find the film occasionally dull and laboured. However, with a relatively short running time of 90 minutes it never quite outstays its welcome.
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