My Friends: Act IV – How It All Began

"At the height of its splendor, Florence was struck by a calamity: BOREDOM! To combat it, 5 friends relied on new remedies: gypsies, fishermen, fooling around? I'm fucking around!"

2011 1h 49m IT

💀

4.1

SKIP

★4.1TMDB · 99

Comedy

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Jacopo, Duccio, Cecco, Manfredo and Filippo are five friends who live in Florence of the fifteenth century, during a plague epidemic.

“At the height of its splendor, Florence was struck by a calamity: BOREDOM! To combat it, 5 friends relied on new remedies: gypsies, fishermen, fooling around? I'm fucking around!”

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Cast

Christian De Sica
Paolo
Michele Placido
Duccio Villani di Masi
Paolo Hendel
Jacopo
Giorgio Panariello
Cecco
Massimo Ghini
Manfredo
Massimo Ceccherini
Alderighi
Pamela Villoresi
Piccarda
Barbara Enrichi
Margarita

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Neri Parenti
Writers: Piero De Bernardi, Leonardo Benvenuti, Tullio Pinelli
Languages: Italian
Countries: Italy

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 22% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 15 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

CINEMA

Did you know

Part of the "My Friends Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Neri Parenti, shot by Luciano Tovoli. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Andrea Guerra. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Luca Montanari shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Christian De Sica and Michele Placido and Paolo Hendel carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

FACT

Did you know

Marketing tagline: "At the height of its splendor, Florence was struck by a calamity: BOREDOM! To combat it, 5 friends relied on new remedies: gypsies, fishermen, fooling around? I'm fucking around!".

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Neri Parenti directs. Luciano Tovoli behind the camera. Andrea Guerra scores. Luca Montanari cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in Italy. Dialogue in Italian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 22% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 15 years ago.
3Part of the "My Friends Collection" — so the characters or world continue elsewhere.
4Directed by Neri Parenti, shot by Luciano Tovoli. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Andrea Guerra. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Luca Montanari shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Christian De Sica and Michele Placido and Paolo Hendel carry the top of the cast.
8Marketing tagline: "At the height of its splendor, Florence was struck by a calamity: BOREDOM! To combat it, 5 friends relied on new remedies: gypsies, fishermen, fooling around? I'm fucking around!".
9IMDB entry: tt1656168 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Only 99 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Luciano Tovoli
Original score: Andrea Guerra
Editing: Luca Montanari
Production design: Francesco Frigeri
Costume design: Alfonsina Lettieri
Makeup / hair: Vincenzo Mastrantonio
Runtime: 109 min · 1h 49m
Status: Released
Budget: $15,000,000
Box office: $3,333,050
Return: 22% of budget
Original language: IT
IMDB: My Friends: Act IV – How It All Began (2011)

Part of

My Friends Collection

This film collection celebrates the enduring friendships of various groups over the years. It highlights how these bonds navigate life's stages through humor and unconventional adventures, despite some morbid events. The films focus on friends' commitment to each other, showcasing their camaraderie through absurd pranks and shared experiences. While primarily comedic, the series tactfully addresses sensitive topics like illness and death through the lens of friendship, creating a unique blend of genres. This combination appeals to audiences who enjoy comedies and touching stories about friendship. The emotional impact is a mix of laughter and nostalgia, as viewers reflect on the value of deep friendships and the power of humor in difficult times.