Product Review

Italy released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada: LANGUAGES: Italian ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), Italian ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (2.35:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Booklet, Interactive Menu, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: Following his eye-opening experience in the south, Alberto (Claudio Bisio) returns home to Milan with a promotion. Buddy Mattia (Alessandro Siani), from the laidback post office in Campania, gets transferred to Milan just when a new worker-efficiency system is introduced that makes everyone rebel. Mattia proves to wife Maria (Valentina Lodovini, playing the only character rather than caricature) that he's got gumption, and Alberto convinces wife Silvia (Angela Finocchiaro) that he's not all business. Skewering north/south stereotypes still gets honest chuckles, but half-hearted slapstick struggles for laughs. Visuals are upbeat though unremarkable. SCREENED/AWARDED AT: David Donatello Awards, ...Welcome to the North ( Benvenuti al nord )