Fifth Wheel, The: Italian Veronesi’s Romantic Comedy

(L’ultima ruota del carro)

Giovanni Veronesi, Italy

Italian with English subtitles

Veronesi’s irresistible romantic comedy takes a journey through pivotal events in four decades of recent Italian history, as seen through the lens of Ernesto Fioretti’s unexceptional life.

Played with charm and a disarming sense of humor by Elio Germano, Ernesto is a good-hearted, honest middle-class guy who struggles to keep up with changes and is always a step behind.

But his protagonist’s apparent simplicity is precisely one of the strengths of this film.

The Tuscan director’s fifteenth feature opened the Rome Film Festival to great acclaim.

Rich in emotions, its ups and downs coinciding with those of the country, Ernesto’s life serves as the perfect platform for abundant laughter and tears.