Growing Artichokes in Mimongo

A black farce with absurdist elements about a youth's struggle to establish himself in professional life. When all else fails, Africa seems like the only way out, at least if you're a recently graduated agronomist with artichoke cultivation as your specialty (the film's title translates, ''Do Artichokes grow in Mimongo?'').
In recent years the English language independent film has triumphed and attracted a large following. Thus far no Italian adherents to this trend have surfaced. Fulvio Ottavianio's debut film broke new ground last year. It caught the attention of Director Carlo Verdone, who saw to it that the film was taken up by the country's largest distributor, Cecchi Gori.
That these Italian artichokes are modelled on a film like Clerks is obvious. Protagonist Sergio's search for work develops into a virtual ritual, trying every means possible of finding a job. Most of his attempts fail, of course. When his girlfriend, whom he is still in love with, decides to marry someone else, he decides to win her back with the same conviction as Dustin Hoffman in ”The Graduate.” Danielle Liotti and Valerio Mastandrea in the main roles have become permanent stars in a new generation of Italian actors.
In the title's question lies something that Ottaviano has chosen to transform into reality: life is a challenge, worthy to take on, despite unemployment and arrogantcivil servants. And why not introduce Africa to an Italian thistle ?
Peter Loewe