Laughter, tears, and emotion reminiscent of "The Intouchables" once again!

"God Willing" received the Audience Award at the 28th Tokyo International Film Festival (2015), filling the venue with laughter and tears. The protagonist is a doctor who believes only in what he can see, and a priest who believes in the unseen. God cannot cure heart disease, and doctors cannot cure life. What treasure of life did these two, who save people from opposite standpoints, find when they met?—?

Tommaso, a cardiac surgeon, saves a patient's life with a perfect operation today. A genius as a doctor, he is arrogant, sharp-tongued, and disliked by those around him. His marriage to his wife, whose hobby is volunteering, is stagnant, and his easygoing eldest daughter is marrying a man who is not very impressive. However, he would be satisfied if his intelligent eldest son followed in his footsteps in medicine. But to his dismay, his son, a medical student, declares, "I want to become a priest!" Tommaso, pretending to be understanding, infiltrates the church and suspects that his son is being "brainwashed" by Father Pietro, a popular priest known for his flamboyant performances. Furthermore, it is revealed that the priest is actually a "convict." Tommaso approaches the priest by pretending to be a parishioner who is unemployed, penniless, and suffering from domestic violence from his wife, at his lowest point. To his surprise, the priest, showing genuine concern, insists on meeting his family. Tommaso, who intended to corner the priest, finds himself cornered. What is the priest's true identity? What will be the fate of the family on the verge of collapse?




Marco Giallini, known for "Perfect Strangers" and "The Incredible Victory," plays Tommaso, and Alessandro Gassmann, from "The Transporter 2" and "Roman Holiday," plays Father Pietro. Laura Morante, from "The Son's Room" and "Mother Teresa," plays Tommaso's wife, Carla. The seasoned actors showcase their prowess through exquisite interplay, demonstrating the depth of Italian acting talent. The director praised them, saying, "Marco and Alessandro are wonderful actors and wonderful human beings who approach their work with sincerity. I was delighted to direct them, and I am immensely grateful."

The director is Edoardo Falcone, who has a distinguished career as a screenwriter in Italy. He has crafted a heartwarming adult comedy about the transformation of a doctor, who initially only cared about himself, and his values, through his encounter with an unconventional priest. Released in Italy in April 2015, it resonated deeply with audiences and became a long-running hit. It won the award for Best New Director at the David di Donatello Awards, the Italian Academy Awards, and was nominated for Best Actor.

Laughter, tears, and emotion reminiscent of "The Intouchables," which received thunderous applause at the same film festival in 2011 and later became a super hit upon its theatrical release, are now revived, set in Italy, the land of wine, pizza, and amore.

Every human being is born with a soft and gentle heart. As we age, it may become distorted or hardened, but with the right catalyst, it can always return to its original state—"God Willing," a life-affirming comedy-drama born under the Italian sun, offers a realization that makes us love life more. It will be released in theaters nationwide starting August 27 (Saturday) at Shinjuku Cinema Qualite and other venues!




God Willing
Director | Edoardo Falcone
Cast | Marco Giallini, Alessandro Gassmann, Laura Morante, Ilaria Spada, Edoardo Pesce, Enrico Oetiker
Original Title: Se Dio vuole / 2015 / Italy / 88 min / Color / Cinemascope / 5.1ch Digital / Subtitle Translation: Taro Okamoto
http://gaga.ne.jp/oboshimeshi/

©Wildside 2015