''Many Kisses Later '' ( it, Ex) is a 2009 Italian-French

romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typica ...

film directed and co-written by

Fausto Brizzi Fausto Brizzi (born 15 November 1968, in Rome) is an Italian screenwriter, producer and film director. Biography Fausto Brizzi got a Degree in directing at the "Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia" in July 1994. After several theatrical ex ...

and interpreted by an ensemble cast. The film, produced by Italian International Film, in co-production with the French company and Mes Films in collaboration with

RAI Cinema RAI – Radiotelevisione italiana (; commercially styled as Rai since 2000; known until 1954 as Radio Audizioni Italiane) is the national public broadcasting company of Italy, owned by the Ministry of Economy and Finance. RAI operates many terr ...

. It was released 6 February 2009 in Italian cinema and has been recognized as "national cultural interest" by the Directorate General for Cinema of the Ministry of Heritage and Culture.

Plot

The film presents the love stories of six couples, intertwined and developed between Christmas and

Valentine's Day Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14. It originated as a Christian feast day honoring one or two early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine and, throu ...

. Sergio (

Claudio Bisio Claudio Bisio (; born 19 March 1957) is an Italian actor, presenter, voice actor, comedian, and writer. Early life Bisio was born in Novi Ligure, Piedmont, and raised in Milan, Lombardy. He attended '' scientific lyceum Luigi Cremona'' of Mil ...

), psychologist, divorced for years by Michela (

Elena Sofia Ricci Elena Sofia Barucchieri (born 29 March 1962), known by the stage name Elena Sofia Ricci (), is an Italian actress. She is known, among other things, for playing Sister Angela in the Italian television series . Biography Born in Florence, afte ...

), is engaged to Roberta ( Giorgia Wurth), but is found to be a father of two teenagers, after the sudden death of former wife, discovering by the daughters themselves, that Michela has always loved him, despite the divorce. Filippo (

Vincenzo Salemme Vincenzo Salemme (born 24 July 1957) is an Italian actor, playwright, director and screenwriter. Life and career Born in Bacoli, Province of Naples, Salemme began his career in 1976, with the stage company of Tato Russo. The following year h ...

) and Caterina (

Nancy Brilli Nancy Brilli (; born 10 April 1964 as Nicoletta Brilli) is an Italian film, television and stage actress. Career Born in Rome, of partial Ukrainian origin, Nancy Brilli was introduced in cinema by Pasquale Squitieri, making her debut in a rol ...

), are both divorced and struggling not to have custody of the children who see only as an obstacle to their activities. Judge Luca (

Silvio Orlando Silvio Orlando (born 30 June 1957) is an Italian actor. Orlando was born and raised in Naples, where he started acting in theatre in 1976. He made his film debut in 1988 with a supporting role in the comedy '' Kamikazen: Last Night in Milan'', ...

) instead forces them to stay all four together and spend time doing the activities to which children are interested and then going to the theater, exhibitions and nature parks. The two not only enjoy, but find they still love each other. The same judge Luca and his wife Loredana (

Carla Signoris Carla Signoris (; born 10 October 1960 in Genoa) is an Italian comedian and film, theatre and television actress. In 2009 she was nominated to the David di Donatello for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in '' Ex''. As a dubber, she ...

) are broken, and he moved to live in the student house of his son, to live with pleasure seeking divorced life. Due to an accident which occurred to her, there will be a rapprochement. Giulia (

Cristiana Capotondi Cristiana Capotondi (born 13 September 1980) is an Italian actress. Early life and career Capotondi was born in Rome to an Italian family of mixed Italian Catholic and Italian Jewish background (her maternal grandfather was Jewish). Growing u ...

), daughter of Luca and Loredana, lives with Marc (

Malik Zidi Malik Zidi (born 14 February 1975)ifrance.com
is a French film, television and theatre actor. He is a

) in Paris, but she is transferred from the embassy where she works, due to promotion to

Wellington Wellington ( mi, Te Whanganui-a-Tara or ) is the capital city of New Zealand. It is located at the south-western tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Remutaka Range. Wellington is the second-largest city in New Zealand by me ...

, New Zealand. Elisa (

Claudia Gerini Claudia Gerini (; born 18 December 1971) is an Italian actress and singer. Life and career Born in Rome, Gerini won the National Competition of Miss Teenager in 1985. She got her first part in a film, ''La ballata di Eva'', at 14. She subsequ ...

) is about to marry Corrado (

Gianmarco Tognazzi Gianmarco Tognazzi (born 11 October 1967) is an Italian actor. Life and career Born on 11 October 1967 in Rome, the son of actors Ugo Tognazzi and Franca Bettoia,Giorgio Dell’Arti, Massimo Parrini. ''Catalogo dei viventi''. Marsilio, 2009. . ...

), but his former boyfriend Lorenzo (

Flavio Insinna Flavio Insinna (born 3 July 1965) is an Italian actor and television presenter. He is the current host of ''L'eredità''. He is also known for having hosted '' Affari Tuoi'', the Italian version of ''Deal or No Deal'' between 2006 and 2008 and t ...

) in the most unpredictable: it is the priest (Don Lorenzo) that will get them married. On the altar of the three will have an important turn. Monique (

Cécile Cassel Cécile Crochon (), better known by the stage name Cécile Cassel (born 25 June 1982), is a French actress and singer. Since 2002, she has appeared in a number of films and television series. She is also a recording artist using the stage name H ...

), a friend of Elisa's, is engaged to Paolo (

Fabio De Luigi Fabio De Luigi (born 11 October 1967) is an Italian actor, voice actor, comedian, film director, television presenter, and former basketball player. Biography Great-grandson of Tonino Guerra; has a son, Dino, born in 2007, and a daughter, Lola, ...

), a surgeon, who is threatened by the policeman Davide (

Alessandro Gassman Alessandro Gassmann (born 24 February 1965) is an Italian actor and film director. Early life Gassmann was born in Rome, Italy, the son of Italian actor Vittorio Gassman and French actress Juliette Mayniel. He is of German, Jewish and French ...

), former boyfriend of Monique. In the end, Monique leaves Paolo, who finds himself having to operate the same Davide, wounded in the stomach with a bullet. Although Paolo has repeatedly threatened, he will perform his mission and they become friends.

Cast

: Davide *

: Monique *

: Elisa *

: Giulia *

Malik Zidi Malik Zidi (born 14 February 1975)ifrance.com
is a French film, television and theatre actor. He is a

: Marc *

: Corrado *

: Luca *

: Paolo *

: Sergio *

: Filippo *

: Don Lorenzo * Giorgia Wurth: Roberta *

: Michela *

Enrico Montesano Enrico Montesano (born 7 June 1945) is an Italian actor and showman. Career Montesano comes from a family involved in theatre, and he made his debut in 1966 in a show named ''Humor nero'', alongside of Vittorio Metz. Later he became a very ...

: Mario *

: Caterina *

: Loredana *

Martina Pinto Martina may refer to: People * Martina (given name), a female form of Martin, including a list of people with the given name Martina * Martina (surname), a surname found in Italy and Curaçao * Martina (empress), the second Empress consort of t ...

: Valentina *

Vincenzo Alfieri Vincenzo is an Italian male given name, derived from the Latin name Vincentius (the verb ''vincere'' means to win or to conquer). Notable people with the name include: Art *Vincenzo Amato (born 1966), Italian actor and sculptor *Vincenzo Bella ...

: Andrea *

Angelo Infanti Angelo Infanti (; 16 February 1939 – 12 October 2010) was an Italian film actor. He appeared in more than 90 films between 1961 and 2010. He was born on 16 February 1939 in Zagarolo, Italy. He died on 12 October 2010 in Tivoli, Italy due t ...

: Elisa's father *

Francesca Nunzi Francesca Nunzi (born 27 December 1968) is an Italian actress. She graduated at the Laboratory of Performing Exercises under Gigi Proietti and is best known for films such as Tinto Brass' sex comedies, '' Cheeky'' and '' Monella''. She has also ...

:Antonella *

Nathalie Rapti Gomez Nathalie is a female given name. It is a variant of the name Natalie/ Natalia which is found in many languages, and is especially common in French and English speaking countries. Notable people with the name include: * Nathalie, Italian singer * ...

: Noemi

Production

Filming began on 15 July 2008 and ended on 4 October and the film was shot in Rome, Paris and South Africa.

Biagio Antonacci Biagio Antonacci (; born 9 November 1963) is an Italian singer-songwriter from Milan. Biography Early life Biagio Antonacci was born in Milan and was raised in one of its suburbs (Rozzano). Despite learning how to play the drums at a young a ...

composed two songs specially for the film, "Il cielo ha una porta sola" ( it, "The Sky Has a Single Door") and "Aprila" ("Open It"), both included on the album '. The video for "Open It" was played by Giorgia Wurth. The original soundtrack of the movie is by

Bruno Zambrini Bruno Zambrini (born 5 April 1935) is an Italian composer and record producer. Born in Francavilla al Mare, Chieti, Zambrini graduated in composition at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory. In the 1960s he became a successful composer of pop songs, n ...

. The soundtrack in two CD includes several Italian and foreign songs of the past, including "

Fiumi di parole "Fiumi di parole" (literally "Rivers of words") is a song recorded by the Italian duo Jalisse. The song was written by Fabio Ricci, Carmen Di Domenico and Alessandra Drusian. It is best known as the entry at the Eurovision Song Contest 1997, hel ...

" ("Rivers of Words") done live in the film in a cameo by Alessandra Drusian and

Fabio Ricci Fabio Ricci (born 11 July 1994) is an Italian volleyball player for Bunge Ravenna and the Italian national team. He participated at the 2017 Men's European Volleyball Championship The 2017 Men's European Volleyball Championship was the 30th ...

, known to the public as the duo

Jalisse Jalisse () is an Italian musical duo consisting of spouses Alessandra Drusian (born 18 May 1969) and Fabio Ricci (born 5 September 1965). In 1997 they won the Sanremo Festival, "Big" category, with the song "Fiumi di parole" and took part in the ...

Enzo Salvi Enzo Salvi (born Vincenzo Salvi; 16 August 1963 in Rome, Italy) is an Italian actor.
Dichesegnosei

and also make cameo appearances in the film. In the closing credits of the film there are photos and videos of a hundred anonymous kisses, sent to the

web site A website (also written as a web site) is a collection of web pages and related content that is identified by a common domain name and published on at least one web server. Examples of notable websites are Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Wikipe ...

of the film during the months preceding the release. It became a box office hit in Cannes becoming the best selling Italian film among the participating nations.

Box office

In Italian cinemas, the film earned a revenue of €10,600,000 according to data from .

Other media

The book ''Il manuale degli Ex'' (''The Handbook of Ex''), written by

and published by

Mondadori Arnoldo Mondadori Editore () is the biggest publishing company in Italy. History The company was founded in 1907 in Ostiglia by 18-year-old Arnoldo Mondadori who began his publishing career with the publication of the magazine ''Luce!''. In 1 ...

, was released at the same time as the film.

Awards

''Ex'' received 10

David di Donatello The David di Donatello Awards, named after Donatello's ''David'', a symbolic statue of the Italian Renaissance, are film awards given out each year by the ''Accademia del Cinema Italiano'' (The Academy of Italian Cinema). There are 26 award cat ...

nominations: best film, director, screenplay, supporting actor Claudio Bisio, Actress Carla Signoris, editing, music, original song, sound, David Young It also received six nominations for the

Silver Ribbon The Nastro d'Argento, also known by its translated name Silver Ribbon, is an Italian film award awarded each year since 1946 by the Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists (Italian: ''Sindacato Nazionale Giornalisti Cinematografici Italiani ...

: Best Comedy, Best Screenplay, Editing, Original Song, Supporting Actor Claudio Bisio – Silvio Orlando (all candidates), actress Carla Signoris, the film won the Silver Ribbon for best comedy special.

Remake

A French remake entitled ' (''Les Ex'' in French speaking markets) was released in 2017. The film was written and directed by and stars

Jean-Paul Rouve Jean-Paul Rouve (born 26 January 1967) is a French actor, film director, screenwriter and producer. He is a member of the troupe "Les Robins des Bois". He has appeared in more than thirty film and television productions since 1993. Personal li ...

Patrick Chesnais Patrick Chesnais (born 18 March 1947) is a French actor, film director and screenwriter. Life and career Patrick Chesnais was born in La Garenne-Colombes, Hauts-de-Seine. He was educated at the '' Lycée Pierre Corneille'' in Rouen. In 1989 ...

Arnaud Ducret Arnaud Ducret (born 6 December 1978) is a French actor and comedian. Life and career In 2013, he plays Gaby alongside Alix Poisson (Isa) in Parents mode d'emploi, a series broadcast on France 2 France 2 () is a French public national televi ...

Baptiste Lecaplain Baptiste Lecaplain (born 23 May 1985 in Mortain) is a French comedian and actor. He does stand-up comedy and has appeared in some films. Early life In 2004, he got his baccalauréat. After that, he was a youth leader at Levallois-Perret but he qu ...

Stéfi Celma Stefi Celma (born 9 October 1986) is a French actress and singer. Biography Stefi Celma was born in Paris to Martinican parents. When Celma was 4 years old, she took part in the TV show '' L'École des fans''. A few years after, she joined the ...

Judith El Zein Judith El Zein (born 1 November 1976) is a French actress. Filmography Theater References External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Zein, Judith 1976 births Living people French television actresses French film actresses French stage actre ...

Natacha Lindinger Natacha Lindinger (born 20 February 1970) is a French actress. She has appeared in more than sixty films since 1991. Selected filmography Film Television References External links * 1970 births Living people French film actresses ...

Alice David Alice David (born 22 March 1987) is a French actress, known for the television series ''Bref'' (2011) and the film ''Babysitting'' (2014). She is the voice of the French dub of Lara Croft in the video game ''Tomb Raider ''Tomb Raider'', als ...

, Zoé Duchesne,

Claudia Tagbo Claudia Tagbo (born 14 June 1973) is a French-Ivorian actress, comedian and TV personality. Early life Claudia Tagbo was born in Abidjan, Ivory Coast Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire, officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire ...

, and Maurice Barthélemy among others.

External links

* {{Fausto Brizzi 2009 films French romantic comedy films Italian romantic comedy films 2000s Italian-language films Films set in Rome Films set in Paris Films set in New Zealand Films shot in Rome Films shot in Paris Films shot in South Africa Films directed by Fausto Brizzi Films produced by Fulvio Lucisano Films scored by Bruno Zambrini 2000s French films