Italian for Beginners

Without abandoning the illusion of realism, Scherfig and her wonderful cast slyly transmute the quotidian into the magical. It's like watching flowers bloom in a concrete garden.

Scherfig manages to elicit excellent performances from a talented cast.

Romantic, often comic but certainly for grownups.

There's much enjoyment to be had in the quirkiness and imperfection of the characters as they struggle to overcome personal misfortune.