The French Italian (dir. Rachel Wolther)

By: Adam Freed

There is nothing worse than noisy neighbors.  Especially when those noisy neighbors share the very thin walls of a 130 year old Manhattan brownstone.  This is the lighthearted premise behind Rachel Wolther’s The French Italian, a playful and comedic escapist romp that feels more like the premise for a sitcom than it does a feature length film.  A late twenties loving couple played with joyous irreverence by Catherine Cohen and Aristotle Athari take it upon themselves to exact a form of mean spirited revenge on their karaoke loving neighbors by staging a ridiculously complicated and labor intensive play in order to satiate their endless predisposition towards nosiness.

The French Italian, which despite the grandeur of its title, is a New York neighborhood ensemble comedy, forefronts its sitcom sensibilities which are bolstered on the strength of its supporting cast.  In particular Chloe Cherry (Euphoria) and Ruby McCollister offer memorable performances as the target of the elaborate hoax and the hyper-involved mentally unstable friend respectively.  Although the film offers no grand scale pay off by way of theme, its rollicking climax is one to remember as it is without question a loving nod to those who have cut their teeth as aspiring theatrical performers.  Rachel Wolther’s film carries with it the weight of an impromptu get together with close friends, it is joyful, easy and good for the soul. 

Target Score 6.5/10 The French Italian is a perfectly suited light summer comedy, the stakes are low and the enjoyment maintains a consistent simmer.  Catherine Cohen’s memorable and commanding comedic performance makes hers a name worthy of note. 

The French Italian was screened in conjunction with Movie Archer’s coverage of the 2024 Tribeca Film Festival.