Tell No One [Come non detto] *** (2012, Josafat Vagni, José Dammert, Valeria Bilello, Monica Guerritore, Francesco Montanari) – Classic Movie Review 12,471

Josafat Vagni is a real charmer as Mattia, a Rome gay guy about to move to Madrid to live with his boyfriend Eduard, who announces his arrival in Rome to meet the unsuspecting in-laws, in the likeable 2012 Italian comedy film Tell No One [Come non detto].

The thoroughly likeable 2012 Italian comedy film Tell No One [Come non detto] is directed by Ivan Silvestrini, and based on a novel by Roberto Proia, who also writes the screenplay. There is not a single surprise in sight, but all the very familiar ingredients are well shaken and stirred, with charming results.

Josafat Vagni is a real charmer as Mattia, a super-nice Rome gay guy and the lover of a Spanish student named Eduard (José Dammert). Mattia would like to come out, but finds he cannot tell his parents that he is gay or about about his love affair because of their conservative, old-fashioned views and because of the way many of the locals in Rome seem to hate gay people.

Mattia plans to run away with Eduard while telling his dysfunctional parents that he intends to leave Italy for Spain to find work. But then the day before Mattia leaves for Spain, Eduard suddenly tells him he is coming to Italy to meet Mattia’s family, thinking Mattia has already told his parents about the two of them. Mattia kind of panics. His very gay best friend and his close girl friend might be able to help.

Tell No One [Come non detto] manages to be funny, while scoring its points nicely, and accurately. It could hardly be cuter, making the familiar seem fresh, and convincing you that it is the first time you have ever heard this story. All the support performances are good, too, with the well chosen actors livening it up, and stopping just short of caricature or slapstick. It’s quite a lot of good-natured fun. And it’s smartly made and very briskly and confidently handled. And, crucially, it is lighthearted but not lightweight.

The cast are Josafat Vagni as Mattia, José Dammert as Eduard, Valeria Bilello as Stefania, Francesco Montanari as Giacomo / Alba Paillettes, Monica Guerritore as Aurora, Ninni Bruschetta as Rodolfo, and Victoria Cabello as herself.

© Derek Winnert 2023 – Classic Movie Review 12,471

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