Directed by Cesare Furesi (a multi-hyphenate physically disabled from a post-polio syndrome) which he co-wrote with Guido Furesi in collaboration with Paola Mammini, Who Will Save the Roses (original title: Chi salverà le rose?) revolves around Giulio Santelia (Golden Globe winner Carlo Delle Piane), now an elderly gentleman who left a career as a lawyer to become a professional poker player. Guilio has devoted himself to his love affair with Claudio (Lando Buzzanca) who is bedridden with a serious illness.
Everyday Giulio brings Claudio a rose and these have collected in piles at his bedside.
Giulio has a stormy relationship with his daughter, Valeria (stunning Casino Royale alum Caterina Murino), though she loves Claudio. Valeria has a son, Marco (the charismatic and handsome young actor Antonio Careddu), who she raised alone and who adores his “grandparents”. Valeria comes to visit her father only to discover that his finances are in deep disarray and he has grand debts. He will have to go back into the poker game to try ad save them.
What begins with a legitimately funny and light affair turns towards one with uncompromising sadness. The film is laden with colorful characters and winding storyline that Furesi manages to hold together, but in the end this is no Neil Jordan film; the gravitas of the subject matter never quite arrives. Well perhaps until the final sequence.
There is still an air of the directorial debutante here, sometimes barely rising above the movie of the week fare. That said, there are some excellent cinematographic moves by Giuseppe Pignone.
Once the film reaches the second act around the poker matches, and we are stuck inside in the somber tones of mahogany and brick color palette, the film loses its romantic flair and sags. The film takes a more somber turn in the third act and I won’t reveal how it unfolds out of respect to the filmmakers.
All of the actors here are excellent, filled with star-power and well cast. The story is filled with tender moments, but also some that raise eyebrows, and not always in a good way. On the one hand, the relationship between the two elderly men is handled in a very natural and touching way. On the other hand, a scene where Giulio uses a burnt wine cork to apply blackface so as to entertain his sick partner was heartbreakingly regrettable. I had to ask myself whether this was an example of the mindset of this man from another era. Nonetheless it is played without irony.
Besides this thorn, the film is filled with fetching vistas, and a beguiling score rife with baritone sax, plucky instrumentation and accordion by composer Marcello Peghin.
Interesting to see a contemporary low budget melodrama from Italy normalizing a pair of elderly men in love. I also found the relationship between the grandfather and his grandson, whom he enlists into his poker playing scheme, charming.
I have mixed feeling about the result, but found some lovely fragrances among the thistles. The film has been nominated for three Golden Globes.
Who Will Save the Roses is available via iTunes and Amazon Prime.