I have a dilemma. I want to be objective but I want not to be so jaded as to spoil Italy’s coming out parties. Italy’s opening up the closets; shall I be mean or should I be generous? Maybe I can be a little of both.
The problem with movies about “young men coming out to their families” is that they’ve been done so much in America that the run-of-the-mill “coming out to the family” movie seems more After School Special than cutting edge. If only Come Non Detto (translation: Let’s forget it) had offered something new. If only it had been just a little less predictable.
You already know the story:
a) The guy’s got a beautiful best girlfriend that is in love with him and wishes he were straight.
b) His father’s an insensitive jock who uses anti-gay slurs.
c) He’s got a cute little “hip” grandma who seems the wisest of them all and
d) a pain-in-the-ass sister and
e) a boyfriend that is about ready to break up with him if he doesn’t tell his family he’s gay and
e) his coming out is as warm and fuzzy as a seven-year-old’s birthday party.
Come Non Detto, though not ground-breaking in any way by US standards, is still a very nice movie and has everything I require from a good romantic comedy: two likeable and good-looking protagonists who find their way, humorously, to a happily ever after. Maybe that’s all it’s trying to be. Maybe it’s more realistic than I think it is. Maybe all gay guys really do have beautiful girl side-kicks (they seem to in all of Ferzan Ozpetek’s movies as well).
Josafat Vagni plays our hero, Mattia, and Stefania, the beautiful roommate who has to settle for the best-friend part in his life is played by the cute as a button Valeria Bilello. Eduard, the love of Mattia’s life, is played by Jose Dammert and as characters go they are all sympathetic and ones that I want the best for, so that’s something. But what Come Non Detto tries to do, Ferzan Ozpetek did better in Mine Vaganti (Loose Cannons).
READ MY REVIEW OF MINE VAGANTI
One thing, the love scenes are more passionate and leave less to the imagination, so for Italy, this is important. For a country a little known for its homophobia (sorry guys, but I love you, but it’s true), Come Non Detto is definitely one more step in the right direction toward the day in which real gay guys can walk down real Italian streets holding hands.
Director: Ivan Silvestrini
Writer: Roberto Proia
Stars: Josafat Vagni, Valeria Bilello, Jose Dammert
I Love Italian Everything 