Italian remake of dark comedy
Massimiliano Bruno is adapting the 2007 British film Death at a Funeral for Italian audiences, offering a version that embraces humor rooted in stereotypes and avoids modern "woke" sensibilities. The film is set to debut in Italian cinemas during Halloween week, marking a bold approach to comedy that prioritizes laughter over political correctness.Collaborators and production
The film is produced by No Name Entertainment in partnership with Rai Cinema and distributed by 01 Distribution. Bruno co-wrote the screenplay with his frequent collaborator, Edoardo Falcone, and the adaptation includes some scenes from the original, similar to the 2010 American remake directed by Neil LaBute.Gender role reversal
Bruno’s version shifts the gender of the protagonist, transforming the original male lead into a female character named Daria, played by Claudia Pandolfi. Daria is a bank employee who secretly dreams of writing screenplays, including one titled Wounds, set in a dystopian world, which she keeps hidden in a drawer.Family dynamics and chaos
The story centers on Daria’s complicated relationship with her brother Riccardo, played by Pietro Sermonti, an established film director who joins her at the family villa for their recently deceased father’s funeral. The gathering of relatives and friends becomes a chaotic backdrop for exaggerated character interactions and comedic misunderstandings.Eccentric supporting cast
The film features a range of quirky characters, including a vain young priest with a large following, a surgeon’s son trying to reconcile with his ex, and a character accidentally given a hallucinogenic mix, leading to a surreal rooftop scene. A standout moment involves a young man with dwarfism tenderly interacting with the coffin.Bruno’s comedic style
Bruno’s approach emphasizes slapstick humor and exaggerated stereotypes, avoiding modern political correctness in favor of a "non-woke" sensibility. The film’s enclosed setting, the family villa, allows for rapid-fire comedic twists, with each character bringing their own quirks and secrets to the mix.A comedy of errors
The film leans into a comedic structure that prioritizes punchlines over deep character development, creating a lively, if somewhat repetitive, experience. While the original Death at a Funeral was noted for its excess, Bruno’s version omits some of the more controversial elements, focusing instead on pure, cathartic laughter.
