Opening scene portraits happy times: three handsome men playfully move around rubbing cake frosting on their faces to the rythm of Bizet’s Carmen Habanera (L´amour est un oiseau rebelle...) Suddenly we realize that it´s a dream, and a man is awakening and the music is interrupted by the ringtone of his mobile phone.
That first sequence relates to the previous film Mascarpone directed by Alessandro Guida and Matteo Pilati, with almost the same cast. (read our review here)
The dreamer is Antonio (Giancarlo Commare), a well known independent pastry chef, who gets ready to go to an interview with an important gastronomic reviewer. On his way he meets with fans on the street and, as in his videos, instructs them to “follow the recipe”. It is said he learned his cooking and baking skills at an old bakery no longer open.
This romantic comedy is set in Rome and the story is based on close relationship among three friends: Luca (Gianmarco Saurino), Antonio and Denis who passed away, after which the first two go separate ways.
After three years, out from nowhere Luca shows up and asks Antonio to bake a Rainbow Cake for a celebration at “The Refuge” a group home for LGTB+ teens. Luca and his boyfriend Tancredi (Andrea Fuorto) are in charge of the place painting and fixing it with a group of fellow friends.
There is a complicity among Antonio and Luca, as they are reunited again and Antonio still feels strongly attached to him, but time has passed and things have changed. Although, they decide to reopen the old bakery and named it after his friend Denis. The film immerses us in this adventure with twists and turns.
Queer Italian cinema is a declaration of principles on its own, interesting and nice to watch, and these are sweet memories for sure.
Directed by Alessandro Guida. Jose Mayorgas reviewed this at Chicago’s REELING FILM FEST, next it will svreen at Utah Queer Film Festival and soon available by streaming on Prime Video
Review by José Mayorga , Guatemala, Central America lawyer and notary public, visual artist, and editor of El Azar Cultural, lives and works in Guatemala City. Cinema lover, curious about the possibilities life brings and eager to live the experience.
Labels: 2024, Alessandro Guida, José Mayorgas, Mascarpone The RainbowCake, Matteo Pilati, review
