13 AT A TABLE
***1/2 out of *****
Reviewed by Mandroid3000

Screening at the 2006 Italian Film Festival
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Genres
Comedy
Drama
Romance

2004
Written and directed by
Enrico Oldoini
Cast
Nicolas Vaporidis .... Giulio
Manuela Borlotti .... Arianna
Angela Finocchiaro .... Piera
Alessandro Benvenuti       
Silvia De Santis .... Daria
Niccolò Enriquez .... Pietro
Luca Angeletti .... Roberto
Kasia Smutniak .... Anna
Maria Amelia Monti .... Matilde
Andrea Giuliano .... Furio
Pietro Fornaciari .... Moreno
Paolo Bonacelli .... Nonno Giulio
Giancarlo Giannini .... Older Giulio

13 at a Table revolves around an Italian family villa in the 1960s where twelve family members, there generations, are staying for the summer. Amongst them are Giulio the most sensitive of four late-teen/early twenty year-old brothers. The film jumps between the past and the present day where Giulio, now divorced but with a daughter, is putting the house up for sale. But the sale, which he has returned to the villa along with his daughter to conclude, brings back memories of his youth.

In particular, memories of a beautiful family friend, Anna, who came to stay that summer. All four brothers are smitten with her, though not all of them are single. Writer/director Enrico Oldoini perfectly captures the feeling of love and yearning that Giulio has for her, and the feeling of being the one who really genuinely loves someone when that someone is falling for a person who is insincere.

The film covers a broad emotional palette, weaving together the various stories of the family members while remaining centred on Giulio and Anna. Amongst others there’s the strict military father and the lazy grandfather, and the sexually unfulfilled wives. All of these characters add together to create a warm feeling of reminiscence for a family connectedness. Replaying all the lives, loves, and lies that the walls of the long-held family villa have absorbed causes Giulio, always sensitive, to stall on the sale.

This film is like a love letter, not just to Anna, but to a style of family life. A tradition that the film seems to imply is breaking down in Italy. Several generations all mingled together, the past and future not being forgotten but building on each other. The way these feelings are built up through the film leads to a nice conclusion, one which is, sadly, not so achievable in real life.

13 at a Table is pleasant and humorous, but not laugh-out-loud funny. And while it doesn’t come off as particularly original, it is enjoyable. There are the occasional scenario and joke that I’ve seen before, and the occasional plot contrivance, but if you’re a person who feels drawn to Italy, then you’ll have a good time soaking up the atmosphere of this film and likely not care too much about that.

The acting in the film is excellent. Kasia Smutniak, a Polish born model who plays Anna stands out; she has a real star quality. According to her IMDb profile, she can speak fluent Polish, Russian, Italian, and English, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see her showing up in a Hollywood film. Her profile also gives us this outdated “Where are they now” fact: “(August 2003) On vacation in Nepal.” Good to know.

13 at a Table will be screening in Wellington on Friday October 20 at 8:30pm and Saturday October 21 at 4:00pm, both screening are at the Paramount Theatre.
For screening times in other cities, check out the Italian Film Festival's homepage
Or go back to KP's Italian Film Festival coverage.

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