Ma quando arrivano le ragazze? (when do the girls show up?) (2005)
Cast: Claudio Santamaria, Vittoria Puccini, Paolo Briguglia
Director: Pupi Avati
Language: Italian
Runtime: 106 min

‘When do the girls show up(Ma Quando Arrivano Le Ragazzee?)’, directed by Italy’s famous Pupi Avanti is primarily a study on friendship and love. Gianca (Paolo Briguglia), a young saxophonist meets modest trumpeter Nick (Claudio Santamaria) on a train going for an audition. Gianca is trained for years in music in schools and by his father who himself is a moderately successful pianist. He has a way with women and it is fascinating how he goes and picks women. Gianca sees Nick’s natural ability(‘there is a special relationship between him and his instrument’ he observes) and forms a band with him along with two other musicians. When Nick starts dating Gianca’s sister, it is an assurance for him that Nick will stay with him. The group starts playing at various places and the spotlight quickly shifts to Nick’s brilliance. Nick keeps getting offers from the recording firms and soon he had to leave the group. Gianca finds Fransesca(Vittotia Pucchini), the love of his life and moves onto other things in life as he understands that ‘he can’t blow them away with his music’, like his father wants him to.

Nick’s success forms a void between the two friends. Nick is a womanizer and he pursues Fransesca secretly. Gianca sees something between Nick and Fransesca. Nick comes back to play with his old friends again and they go on a two month road tour. On the tour, Nick challenges Gianca to get the bar girl to sleep with them using the psychology that Gianca usually brags about. Both of them know this time that it isn’t just a game. Nick wants Gianca to cheat on his wife so that when Fransesca sleeps with Nick, Nick wouldn’t feel so guilty. Gianca knows it but still obliges because he wants to see if Fransesca would cheat on him. Gianca tells her the truth as well about how he slept with the bar girl. She leaves him angrily and goes and sleeps with Nick. Was it an act of revenge? Or was she waiting for an excuse so that she could sleep with Nick? We would never know. Nick leaves the city. The film is rich in exploring psychological conditions of its characters. Nick comes back to Bologna for a performance and sends an invitation to Gianca. Gianca wants Fransesca to go with him for the show. It is a test for both of them, for three of them actually. Can Fransesca see Nick and still love Gianca? How strong is their love? Can Gianca handle Nick’s success and the publics accolades of him? What would Nick’s reaction be when he meets them? ‘When do girls show up’ is the first song of the band and it is written by Gianca himself. Nick plays this very song at his performance. How would Gianca react after seeing his song played by Nick? There are many glorious and funny moments as well in this film and I am glad I watched it. The band drives around in their pianist’s car that has only one door. It was hilarious when the other three present him a door on his birthday. I am dying to see Indian Films of this kind.

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