THE title says it all; My Big Gay Italian Wedding is an Italian feast for the eyes that celebrates love in its varied guises.
Antonio (Cristiano Caccamo) and Paolo (Salvatore Esposito) are living in Berlin when Antonio proposes.
With their friend Bernedetta (Diana Del Bufalo) and new roommate Donato (Dino Abbrescia) in tow, the couple travel back to Antonio’s hometown, an incredible medieval-esque town perched high on an eroding mountain.
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However, Antonio hasn’t quite told his parents that he is gay and while his mother Anna (Monica Guerritore) is supportive of the marriage, his father Roberto (Diego Abatantuono) refuses to be happy for him, causing a rift between husband and wife.
As town mayor, Roberto is seen as progressive in welcoming refugees against the wishes of some of the townsfolk.
Therefore his conservative views on gay marriage come as a surprise to even the town’s Catholic priest Don Francesco (Antonio Catania), who agrees to marry the couple himself in a deconsecrated church.
Tonally, the film is somewhat all over the place from laugh-out-loud comedic antics to deadly serious moments, such a tense scene when Antonio ‘comes out’ to his parents.
There are also side plots that feel like an unnecessary aside to the main story, such as a stereotypically obsessive ex-girlfriend from Antonio’s past who attempts to woo him back.
But there is a lot of fun to be had with My Big Gay Italian Wedding, from the sumptuous scenery to the stylish costumes and the happy ending captured in a big musical number.
THE ESSENTIALS
My Big Gay Italian Wedding (M)
Directed by: Alessandro Genovesi
Starring: Salvatore Esposito, Cristiano Caccamo, Monica Guerritore
Three and half stars
Review by: Lucy Rutherford
Showing at Luna Leederville and Luna On SX on June 6