CLOSING NIGHT FILM

It’s not easy to be single. You have to support yourself financially, lean on friends for emotional support, and navigate the tricky world of dating. It takes skill, resolve, and confidence, none of which Antonio possesses. 

At 29, Antonio (Giancarlo Commare) has settled into the comfortable life of a “trophy husband.” He’s been with his husband Lorenzo since high school, so when Lorenzo abruptly ends their 12-year relationship, Antonio has to figure out how to stand on his own for the first time. He gets a new job as an apprentice baker working for Luca, his soon-to-be boss-with-benefits, and rents a room from his free-spirited new friend Denis, a kimono-clad hooker and occasional drug dealer. With the help of Luca, Denis, and his best friend Christina he dips his toes back into the world of dating, learns the rules of internet hook-ups, and figures out who he is without Lorenzo. 

In addition to his apprenticeship, Antonio enrolls in baking classes. Those classes serve as the perfect metaphor for Antonio’s new single life. As he struggles to find the right balance at home, he struggles to find the right balance of ingredients in the kitchen. As he practices his recipes, he also practices (and practices) the art of casual romance. These baking classes are also a great metaphor for the film itself: much like the perfect batch of mascarpone, Mascarpone perfectly blends its ingredients to create a delicious film. 

Between the sometimes gratuitous food porn and a cast loaded with some of the most attractive men in Italy, Mascarpone is an absolute feast for the eyes. Ultimately however, it's your heart that will get the biggest workout from this film. Beautifully written, directed and acted, Mascarpone is a supremely charming film that contains perfect amounts of heart and humor with a dash of heartbreak and a generous helping of handsome men.

~ Steve Weisenreder