Made in Italy (2020)

Directed by: James D’Arcy | 94 minutes | comedy, drama, romance | Actors: Micheál Richardson, Liam Neeson, Valeria Bilello, Lindsay Duncan, Yolanda Kettle, Souad Faress, Claire Dyson, Helena Antonio, Lavinia Biagi, Gabriele Tozzi, Marco Quaglia, Gian Marco Tavani, Costanza Amati, Eileen Walsh, Flaminia Cinque, Julian Ovenden , Chelsea Fitzgerald, Deborah Vale

Jack is in his thirties with little future prospects. Although he is good at his job, he is an art gallery manager, there is a high probability that he will have to re-enter the labor market soon. The art gallery is financed by the parents of his (almost) ex-wife, and that ex is happy to bring Jack the news that the gallery will be sold in a month. At his wits’ end, Jack knocks on the door of his father Robert, with whom he has no close relationship. The two men own a house in Italy. They haven’t been there in decades, but Jack expects the sale of this house to bring in enough money to buy the gallery.

Robert is an engaging, headstrong painter, who introduces his one-night stand to his son by the wrong first name in the first scene we get to know him. On the car ride to the family home, Robert wins over the audience with a few funny remarks. Jack also immediately deserves our sympathy. He’s the underdog, of course, the one who immediately gives you the go-ahead for his bitchy ex when he comes up with the money for his gallery.

It is obvious that Robert and Jack have grown apart. ‘Made in Italy’ does not reveal the reason why, however, so that you are continuously fascinated. Not only the difficult relationship between father and son is central to ‘Made in Italy’, the necessary jobs that have to be done in and around the completely dilapidated house also receive the necessary attention. And that provides humor and lightness between the occasionally quite emotionally charged scenes. And of course love is in the air. Although it is not very plausible that Jack immediately falls for the first Italian woman he meets; Valeria Bilello knows how to put enough depth and charm in her character Natalia that you take that for granted. The summery Italian environment does the rest.

‘Made in Italy’ is not the first film in which Liam Neeson (Robert) and his son Micheál Richardson (Jack) can be seen together, even as father and son (‘Cold Pursuit’, 2019). In this feel-good film, however, they get enough space to use their family bond; it is clear that both gentlemen are comfortable in each other’s company. Micheál Richardson is not (yet) a particularly skilled actor, but Liam Neeson is pulling him along. ‘Made in Italy’ is a pleasant, but not very surprising film about fathers and sons and second chances.