From Rome with Love (2012)

Plot of From Rome with Love: The film is located in Rome where four people have some of their stories told. Hayley, and American and Michelangelo, an Italian are to marry and Hayley’s father an opera director, and wife arrive. Michelangelo’s dad, a funeral director, sings wonderfully in the shower so the opera director tries to get him on stage. Leopoldo is a middle class clerk, who for no reason suddenly becomes the centre of attention for the paparazzi. After being surprised, he takes advantage of the attention and makes use of the fame. Antonio and Milly are inexperienced newlyweds who are preparing to get together in their hotel room, after Milly has gone for a walk. She loses her phone and becomes involved in a film shoot, ending up in bed with a thief. Meanwhile Antonio is accidentally visited by a glamourous prostitute, who he has to persuade to take the place of Milly, in a meeting with his parents. Jack, an architecture student, meets a successful architect who may or may not be real, but who advises him during his involvement with his partner’s friend.

Content: There is no nudity or actual sex, although Milly is prepared to shag an Italian film star, but ends up in bed with a thief, and Antonio is seduced by the glamourous prostitute when she finds out he is inexperienced. No drug taking but probably a bit of social drinking. The funeral director sings a lot, and is put on stage by the opera director, finally in a version of Pagliacci where he is seen constantly in the shower. Leopoldo is chased by the newspaper people, at first surprised and then taking advantage of his fame by sleeping with models, but is distressed when everybody moves on. Jack, the architecture student, with John, possibly his older self looking on, falls for Monica, Sally’s friend and they almost get together until she is cast in a film.

A View: This film got mixed reviews but Woody Allen is well enough loved for it to make money anyway. It is the first film in which he acted since 2006, and I think the last one in which he appears on screen. The Leopoldo section starring Roberto Benigni is laugh out loud funny. He is terrific, and it is worth watching this just for him. But generally, a film you can have on without having to pay too much attention.

Fun Fact: Allen particularly disliked the title of the film, but his original ideas would, he accepted, be too obscure for most people.