Directed by Rolando Ravello
Starring Marco Giallini, Vincenzo Salemme, Giuseppe Battiston
When his daughter’s perfect wedding is spoiled by her coming out of the closet, Arturo (Marco Giallini) and his two brother-in-laws (Vincenzo Salemme and Giuseppe Battiston) decide to take drastic steps to meddle in the romantic lives of their three daughters.
A broad strokes comedy made to appeal to a general audience, Three Perfect Daughters achieves what it sets out to do in a quick pithy style, moving rapidly between the three fathers and their quandaries. It looks at the traditional idea of marital expectations that fathers have for their daughters and pits it against the modern world. As such it examines the changing attitudes of the different generations and pits them against each other, particularly on standard hot button issues like sex, drugs, music, LGBTQIA equality, and other current pre-pandemic social issues.
Ultimately Three Perfect Daughters seeks to move those outdated attitudes towards a gentle acceptance of the modern norm, while promoting a more open communication for everyone involved, but it’s a long hard road to get there, and in that lies the material for our comedy. And Three Perfect Daughters really does make it a difficult road for its participants.
It really says a lot for the charisma of Marco Giallini, Vincenzo Salemme, and Giuseppe Battiston, that any of the fathers are at all likeable due to the depths that they sink to. Sure it’s nothing in comparison to the list of crimes in an average ’80s teen comedy (shudder), but there’s a substantial amount of bribery and corruption from some prominent members of the legal profession and law enforcement (not to mention assault, breaking and entering, solicitation, etc).
At times it leaves audiences questioning how far a character can digress until they are truly irredeemable, but the light tone of the script and the genial characterisation suggest it’s something that shouldn’t be contemplated too seriously, and rather mines these situations for a few belly laughs.
Despite the issues examined, and the morally dubious areas the characters veer into, this is a lighthearted comedy that does have its desired appeal. If you just sit back and relax, Three Perfect Daughters is a sweet comedy that delivers on family entertainment.
Three Perfect Daughters is playing as part of the ST. ALi Italian Film Festival, which hits Palace Cinemas Raine Square, Luna Leederville, Luna on SX and Windsor Cinema from Wednesday, October 20 until Sunday, November 14. Check the website for screening times and film details.
DAVID O’CONNELL
