(2008; Giorni e Nuvole, Italian) Graduating with her PhD in art after having raised a daughter, Elsa Oliveri (Margherita Buy) impressively completes her examination on the works of the artist Boniforte before going home to a surprise party. The following morning, her husband Michele (Antonio Albanese), who hasn't gone to work, informs her that they won't be taking a vacation to Cambodia as she had expected because he lost his job two months ago (not previously telling her so that she could "study in peace") with the company in which he had been a partner.

His temper flares quickly with their twenty-something daughter Alice (Alba Rohrwacher), part owner of a restaurant with her boyfriend Rikki, from whom the parents withhold their financial predicament; as she departs after an argument, her father snaps: "Alice doesn't live her anymore."

Expenses (4,000 euros per month) must be cut, the housekeeper let go, the pleasure boat Izmir sold, even their home put on the market (they move into a cramped apartment, through the walls of which come the annoying noises of neighbors); but the couple puts up a false front to friends.

Apropos to the current global economic climate, director Silvio Soldini's film, a portrayal of a family's gradual financial and moral disintegration, adjusting to a lower standard of living, resonates.

While Elsa takes a job at a call center, in addition to her work on a historic restoration project, Michele's search for employment only brings further frustrations - taking a temporary job delivering packages on a scooter and being seen by Alice - affecting his self-respect, resulting in spats with his spouse. After two former employees, Vito and Luciano, help him move into the apartment, which they paint and remodel, the threesome work together on odd jobs.

Michele occasionally visits with his father who, suffering from dementia, stares at his aquarium, trying to remember people from his past.

Elsa gives up her art restoration to work as a secretary in the evenings; but Michele resigns himself to depression (staying in bed or lounging on the couch watching TV), refusing further attempts at interviewing for work. After the car breaks down (unable to afford repairs, they abandon it) and a nasty row with Elsa (whose boss has taken a romantic interest in her), he leaves, going to stay with Alice and Rikki, whom he'd previously despised.

Nevertheless, as with the mysterious hint of something significant lying beneath the cloudy cover of whitewash on the ceiling of the old building where the restoration is painstakingly taking place, the days of Elsa and Michele may yet reveal a Boniforte worth preserving of their earlier bond of love.

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Copyright © 2009 Patrick Ivers. All rights reserved.
Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder.

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