To judge by I Laureati, the irreverent no-holds-barred comic tradition of Tuscany, which spawned the likes of Roberto Benigni and Francesco Nuti, has got a lot tamer.

Though its underlying philosophy is surprisingly conservative, this updated portrait of the new "vitelloni" has plenty of enjoyable freshness and good family audience appeal.

Young actor Leonardo Pieraccioni makes his directing bow playing a college student in Florence. He shares a colourful apartment with nightwatchman Rocco Papaleo, aspiring comedian Massimo Ceccherini, and a married student from out of town, Gianmarco Tognazzi.

They don't get much studying done but they don't go out on the town, carousing, either. Beset by problems and anxieties of all kinds, each member of the quartet does his thing separately.

The film is quite horrified by the prospect of sex for the sake of lust, and ageing professor Alessandro Haber is direly punished for his indulgence.

I laureati is an easy watch but there is little sense of an emerging auteur behind the carefully controlled shenanigans.

Morag Auld

Prod co: Cecchi Gori Group Tiger Cinematografica

Prod: Vittorio and Rita Cecchi Gori

Dir: Leonardo Pieraccioni

Scr: Giovanni Veronesi, Leonardo Pieraccioni

Ph: Alessandro Pesci

Ed: Mirco Garrone Art

dir: Francesco Frigeri

Costumes: Paola Bonucci

Music: Audio 2

Cast: Leonardo Pieraccioni, Rocco Papaleo, Gianmarco Tognazzi, Massimo Ceccherini, Maria Grazia Cucinotta, Alessandro Haber, Barbara Enrichi, Tosca D'Acquino

Running time: 93 minutes

Int sales: Cecchi Gori

Group Screenings: 22 June, 17.30, KCP-Kongressovy; 23 June, 20.00, Xveten

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