Ben Hur

[Benur-Un gladiatore in affitto]

Country: Italy Year: 2012 Duration: 98 mins Language: Italian with English subtitles Genre Comedy Director: Massimo Andrei Cast: Elisabetta De Vito, Nicola Pistoia, Paolo Triestino Classification Exemption: 15+

Sergio (Nicola Pistoia, Viva Italy IFF13) is an out-of-work stuntman who claims to have once worked on the Hollywood epic Ben Hur, but now makes ends meet dressing up as a centurion at the Colosseum. He shares an apartment with his sister Maria (Elisabetta De Vito), who works from home providing phone sex. One day, Milan (Paolo Triestino), an illegal immigrant from Belarus, enters their lives and everything changes.

Milan is keen to take on any odd job he can find, including filling in Sergio’s role at the Colosseum while Sergio takes a holiday. Not only is Milan an immediate hit with the tourist crowds, he uses his engineering skills to build a chariot! Thanks to this very strange man things are looking up for Sergio, and Maria may have finally found love.

Nicola Pistoia, also seen in this year’s festival film Viva Italy, and his co-stars play the many comical moments beautifully. Based on a hit play by Gianni Clementi, this feel-good film has richly comical characters, a sweet story, a gorgeous Roman backdrop and features a wonderful music score by Oscar winner Nicola Piovani.

Not screening in Byron Bay.

Australian Premiere
AWARDS / FESTIVALS:
2012 Rome International Film Festival
All non-English language films will screen in the festival with English subtitles.