Winner of nine David di Donatello awards this year, Silvio Soldini's Pane E Tulipani (Bread And Tulips) leaves little doubt that its writer-director is one of Italy's leading directorial talents ­ if only for his ability to attract the country's top screen personalities.

Born in 1958 in Milan, Soldini made the first of eight short features at the age of 24, setting up his own Monogatari production company in 1984, shortly after winning festival recognition for Paesaggio Con Figure (Landscape With Figure, 1983). Over the next 15 years, he made eight documentaries, but it was three feature films ­ neatly constructed social dramas with tragi-comic touches ­ that brought him recognition. The first was L'Aria Serena Dell'Ovest (Serene Air Of The West, 1990), followed by Un'Anima Divisa In Due
(A Soul Divided In Two, 1993) Acrobat, 1997).

Bread And Tulips sees Soldini re-teaming with screenwriter Doriana Leondeff, who has been collaborating with him since The Acrobat. Cameraman Luca Bigazzi is part of his repertory company too, having been given his first job as cinematographer by Soldini on Landscape With Figure.

Bread And Tulip stars Licia Maglietta as Rosalda, a provincial housewife who is accidentally left behind after accompanying her family on a sightseeing trip. Initially hurt that she has been forgotten, she decides to head for home on her own. Before she knows it, however, she finds herself on the way to Venice ­ and decides to extend her day of freedom into a prolonged holiday.

Remember Fellini's Variety Lights? Well, Bread And Tulips scores as a near updating of that classic.

Ron Holloway