Ask Me If I'm Happy
Directed by Aldo Baglio, Giovanni Storti
- comedy
The story
Aspiring thespians Aldo, Giovanni and Giacomo work dead-end jobs while nurturing their dream production of Cyrano de Bergerac, until love for the same woman tears their friendship apart. Three years later, Giovanni and Giacomo reunite after learning that Aldo is dying.
What it’s like
Warm, sun-washed Italian daylight over cluttered flats and cafés, with loose, theatrical staging that lets three performers play off one another in long, unfussy takes. The palette leans honeyed and faded, and the score is light and melodic, with sentimental strings lifting at the emotional beats. Its vibe is bittersweet and affectionate: a rainy-Sunday or comfort-rewatch film that laughs at its own rough edges before tipping into real ache. The pacing is brisk and bickering in the early scenes, then slows and softens for the reunion, where three men who once shared a dream face what they lost. Their arcs trace guilt, forgiveness and the slow repair of a friendship broken over a woman. Intensity is low: some slapstick and mild crudeness, no real violence, and the illness is handled with sentiment rather than graphic detail. It suits viewers who want funny, heartfelt, gently sad stories about male friendship, and fans of ensemble comedy with a tearjerking streak.
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