‘The Fire Within You’ Review: A Monstrous Mama Unleashes in an Admirable but Draining Italian Comedy-Drama Set on a Miserable Christmas Eve

Tempers boil during a Christmas Eve dinner in Milan when the family’s overbearing widowed matriarch Angela (Vanessa Scalera) commandeers the kitchen and starts doling out orders, passive-aggressive self-pity, and endless platters of food seasoned with spite and cigarette ash in caustic Italian comedy-drama The Fire Within You .

Premiering in competition at the Venice Film Festival , the latest from director Edoardo De Angelis ( Indivisible ) has interesting things to say about class, political and North-South divisions in contemporary Italy, and features some bracingly energetic serio-comic performances — especially from Scalera, whose monstrous mama has an operatically exaggerated energy that’s a bit of a thrill. Related Stories Movies 'Father Joe' Review: Kiefer Sutherland and Al Pacino in a Holy Mess of an Action Flick Movies 'A Bit of Light' Review: A Despondent Man Stumbles Into a Renewed Sense of Connection in a Mournful, Quietly Comic Drama From Iran The Fire Within You The Bottom Line Basta! Venue: Venice Film Festival (Competition) Cast: Vanessa Scalera, Lino Musella, Elena Radonicich, Ivana Lotito, Tommaso Ragno, Nicole Malaj, Samuele Mazza, Tony Laudadio, Giovanni Franzoni Director: Edoardo De Angelis 1 hour 33 minutes

However, The Fire Within You will be an acquired taste for some given that the constant bickering and offensive stream of bile out of Angela’s mouth may leave some viewers with family issues feeling triggered and desperate to run for the exit, or upstairs to their bedroom to put noise-cancelling headphones on and cuddle the cat. (That last bit may just be me.) Honestly, this makes the episode “Fishes” in The Bear look like a Noel Coward play.