''Come Play with Me'' ( it, Grazie, zia) is a 1968 Italian

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super ...

directed by

Salvatore Samperi Salvatore Samperi (26 July 1944 – 4 March 2009) was an Italian film director. His 1973 film ''Malicious (1973 film), Malicious'' was entered into the 23rd Berlin International Film Festival and his 1979 film ''Ernesto (film), Ernesto' ...

. It was listed to compete at the

1968 Cannes Film Festival The 21st Cannes Film Festival was to have been held from 10 to 24 May 1968, before being curtailled due to the turmoil of May 1968 in France. Background This edition was marked by the previous controversy around the Langlois affair. On February ...

, but the festival was cancelled due to the events of

May 1968 in France Beginning in May 1968, a period of civil unrest occurred throughout France, lasting some seven weeks and punctuated by demonstrations, general strikes, as well as the occupation of universities and factories. At the height of events, which ...

. The English title is not a translation of the Italian one, which translates into English as "Thanks, Auntie".

Plot

Alvise (

Lou Castel Lou Castel (born Ulv Quarzell; 28 May 1943) is a Swedish actor who became known through his work in Italian films. Life and career The son of a Swedish father and an Irish mother, Castel was born Ulv Quarzell in Bogotá, Colombia, where his fat ...

) is a young man who thinks he is

paralyzed Paralysis (also known as plegia) is a loss of motor function in one or more muscles. Paralysis can also be accompanied by a loss of feeling (sensory loss) in the affected area if there is sensory damage. In the United States, roughly 1 in 5 ...

. He receives treatment for his psychological problem. His father leaves Alvise for a few days in the care of Aunt Lea (

Lisa Gastoni Lisa Gastoni (born 28 July 1935) is an Italian film actress. Gastoni was named "Best Italian Actress of the Year, 1966" as she received both the Nastro D'Argento Award and the Golden Globe Award from Italy's Foreign Press Association.} Biograp ...

), who is Alvise's mother's sister. Alvise becomes infatuated with his aunt and Lea also reciprocates gradually. Lea breaks off her relationship with Stefano (

Gabriele Ferzetti Gabriele Ferzetti (born Pasquale Ferzetti; 17 March 1925 – 2 December 2015) was an Italian actor with more than 160 credits across film, television, and stage. His career was at its peak in the 1950s and 1960s. Ferzetti's first leading role ...

) to be with her nephew. Alvise promises to make love to Lea if she plays with him and beats him at any of the games. Lea and Alvise play a number of games leading to the ultimate game of euthanasia.

Cast

as Aunt Lea *

as Alvise *

as Stefano *

Luisa De Santis Luisa (Italian and Spanish), Luísa (Portuguese) or Louise (French) is a feminine given name; it is the feminine form of the given name Louis (Luis), the French form of the Frankish Chlodowig (German Ludwig), from the Germanic elements ''hlod ...

as Nicoletta (the singer) *

Massimo Sarchielli Massimo, also Massimino, and Massimine () is a masculine Italian given name. Notable people with the name include: Given name: *Massimo Agostinelli (Max Agos) (born 1987), Swiss based Italian American artist, entrepreneur and activist *Massimo Ago ...

as Massimo *

Nicoletta Rizzi Nicoletta Rizzi (1 January 1940 – 17 January 2010) was an Italian television, stage and film actress. Life Rizzi was born in Milan in 1940. She was mainly active on television, where she was best known for the title role in the television se ...

as the secretary of Alvise's father * Anita Dreyer as Barbara

References

External links

* 1968 films 1960s Italian-language films 1968 drama films Italian black-and-white films Films directed by Salvatore Samperi Films scored by Ennio Morricone 1960s Italian films {{1960s-Italy-film-stub