Director Gianni Di Gregorio explores relationships in later life with 'Never Too Late for Love'

In “Astolfo” (“Never Too Late for Love”), director Gianni Di Gregorio delivers a coming-of-age film for the golden years of life about a retired professor who leaves Rome to return to a tiny mountain village in Abruzzo.

The film opens with the title character, played by Di Gregorio, walking through the streets of his Roman neighborhood, groceries in hand, only to find his landlord waiting for him when he arrives home. She is there to announce that he will have to vacate his humble residence to make way for her daughter, who is getting married soon.

After some contemplation, he calls his ex-wife to ask her about an old family castle he split with her in their divorce. When she confirms that a portion of the castle is his for the taking, he gleefully returns to his spacious new home only to discover it has been occupied by a squatter, who turns out to be an acquaintance from his childhood who is also down on his luck. Without hesitation, Astolfo adopts the man as his roommate.

In short order, he finds himself with two more roommates, all of whom are looking for companionship. But the real adventure begins when Astolfo’s cousin Carlo (Alfonso Santagata) picks him up in his midlife-crisis red sports car. The two meet Carlo’s lady friend for lunch, who brings another lady friend, Stefania, played by the beloved Stefania Sandrelli. Before long, Astolfo falls head over heels.

Di Gregorio has made an art form out of romantic comedies portraying aging, down-on-their-luck protagonists who undergo a personal transformation as they learn to play the cards that life has dealt them. His first romp with this storyline was his 2008 “Pranzo di Ferragosto” (“Mid-August Lunch”), and it proved to be wildly successful. Each of his subsequent films has been well-received by audiences of all ages.

Di Gregorio began his career as an actor in the ’80s and collaborated with director Matteo Garrone (“Gomorrah”) in the ’90s. “Pranzo di Ferragosto” was his directorial debut, and he has served as the protagonist in that and all his subsequent films. In 2021, he won a David di Donatello award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his 2020 film “Lontano lontano” (“Citizens of the World”), the story of four friends navigating the challenges of old age. In “Never Too Late for Love,” released in 2023, we once again have four friends, each with his own idiosyncrasies, who support each other and give Astolfo the push he needs to muster the courage to fight for what he wants.

Gianni Di Gregorio on the set of “Astolfo”

Stefania, a widow, is dealing with her own problems as she has taken on the identity of grandmother and permanent babysitter for her adult children’s children. Even when she tries to have her own life, doing something as simple as making a hair appointment, her son insists she cancel because she has to watch the kids. Stefania adores her grandchildren but longs for the intimacy of friendship and love that goes unfulfilled until she meets Astolfo. They are two lost souls who find each other when they need each other most.

A beautiful aspect of this story, and a quality found in all of Di Gregorio’s films, is the way his characters juggle their family obligations with the rest of their lives. They are aware of their personal shortcomings and disappointments and maintain the hope that they can still turn things around despite their age. His main characters are well into their 60s and 70s but harbor the desire to right the wrongs of their past. Often, they find themselves fighting the prejudices that society has for the aging, even in Italy, a country that respects its senior population. This is a common thread in many contemporary Italian films with characters of a certain age. Directors want to tell their stories and send a message that although folks age and perhaps can’t react as quickly as they used to, they are still living, breathing members of society who deserve dignity and respect. This is the essence of Di Gregorio’s films.

Click here to stream “Never Too Late for Love” on Amazon.

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