Aprile (1998)

I did think it a little unkind that Silvio Berlusconi didn't get a credit here. He features enough - on television or by reputation! It's against the backdrop of the 1996 Italian elections that Nanni Moretti attempts to focus on two significant events in his life. Marginally more important is the birth of his first child, but that's only slightly ahead of his planned documentary about the aforementioned elections. Now this documentary wasn't his first choice. He was initially intent on making a musical, or some sort of revue, but now set on his new course he suffers from a director's block. The crew are poised but his brain is stalled. He's completely perplexed as he must juggle his priorities. He's man of the political left so his documentary planning is also fuelling his disdain for the future of politics in his country... Bluntly, he's between a rock and a very hard place. It's quirky and comical this film whilst taking a few free swipes at people generally out of their depth whether that be about fatherhood, politics or filmmaking. The last five minutes are maybe just a little predictably surreal and Moretti does rather monopolise the screen, but the jolly score and entertaining dialogue make for an enjoyable, if admittedly forgettable, eighty minutes of frustrated mayhem.