Summary

• "Made in Italy" stars a wide variety of actors and actresses from Italy, Ireland, and Scotland.
• Liam Neeson and Micheál Richardson star as father and son, mirroring their real-life relationship.
• The movie revolves around a complicated father-son relationship and the sale of their old Italian home.

Made in Italy features a cast of mostly Italian actors, which shouldn't surprise most, given the title of the movie, and two related stars from Ireland. The 2020 comedy-drama was directed and written by James D'Arcy, and the film revolves around a complicated relationship between a father and his son, who come together to sell their old Italian home and confront demons from their past. The movie had a limited theatrical release in August 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so it only grossed a little under $3 million at the box office.

Made in Italy was also released on video on demand (VOD) in August 2020, where it performed well. However, the comedy-drama ultimately received mixed to negative reviews from critics and audiences. The film currently holds a 44 percent score on the Tomatometer and a 40 percent Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes. Some critics claimed that D'Arcy's feature directorial debut contains strong performances from the cast and benefits from its picturesque setting but falters slightly due to its forgettable story. Nevertheless, many agreed upon the impressive cast performances, especially from the movie's two leads.

Liam Neeson As Robert Foster

Actor: Liam Neeson stars as Robert in Made in Italy. Neeson was born on June 7, 1952, in Ballymena, Northern Ireland, and he is undoubtedly one of the most famous actors in Hollywood to come out of Ireland. Growing up, Neeson participated in productions at school, and he further pursued his dream of becoming an actor a few years after he graduated from university. He mostly starred in plays before he started receiving roles in movies and began to build his resume. However, Neeson rose to prominence when Steven Spielberg cast him to play Oskar Schindler in Schindler's List in 1993.

Notable Movies & TV Shows: Schindler's List is one of Neeson's best films, given that it earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor. However, some of the actor's other most notable movies include Michael Collins, Les Misérables, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Gangs of New York, Love Actually, Kinsey, Batman Begins, the Chronicles of Narnia franchise, Clash of the Titans, and the Taken film series. In recent years, Neeson has become known for his action roles in movies such as Taken, Non-Stop, Cold Pursuit, The Commuter, The Marksman, and many more.

Character: As for Neeson's role in James D'Arcy's Made in Italy, the actor plays Robert Foster, a widow and tortured artist looking to reconnect with his estranged son, Jack. Robert's Italian wife died in a tragic car crash when their son was young, resulting in Robert and Jack drifting apart. However, they both own their former Italian home and when Jack needs money and insists on selling the house, Robert accompanies him to Italy.

Micheál Richardson As Jack Foster

Actor: Micheál Richardson plays Jack Foster in the 2020 comedy-drama. Richardson was born on June 22, 1995, in Dublin, Ireland, to his parents — Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson. Yes, the father and son in Made in Italy are actually father and son in real life. Richardson was born Micheál Neeson, but he took his mother's last name following her tragic death in 2009. Given that Richardson had two actors for parents growing up, his becoming an actor was inevitable. Richardson's first role was as a History Channel reporter in Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, which also featured a cameo by Neeson.

Notable Movies & TV Shows: Richardson has starred in a few films and television series over the years. The actor's movie credits include Vox Lux, Cold Pursuit (where he played his father's character's son), and On Our Way. Richardson also appeared as Renny in the Amazon Prime Video crime drama series Big Dogs and voiced a young Qui-Gon Jinn in Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi.

Made in Italy, starring Liam Neeson and Micheál Richardson, is available to stream on Netflix.

Character: Richardson stars alongside his real-life father in Made in Italy, and the film's plot partly resembles their true story. At the beginning of the comedy-drama, Jack learns from his soon-to-be ex-wife that her family is selling the art gallery where he works as a manager. Jack then heads to Italy with his father, Robert, to sell his childhood home and get the money he needs to buy the art gallery. However, the two have a complicated past. Additionally, Jack meets a woman named Natalia while in Italy and develops feelings for her, which complicates his plans.

Valeria Bilello As Natalia

Actor: Valeria Bilello portrays Natalia in Made in Italy. Bilello was born on May 2, 1982, in Sciacca, Sicily, Italy, but she grew up in Milan, Italy. While she was in high school, Bilello began her acting and modeling career. The Italian actress's first movie role was as Marcella Taxler in Giovanna's Father (Il papà di Giovanna in Italian), which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2008.

Notable Movies & TV Shows: As an Italian actress, Bilello has mostly appeared in Italian films over the course of her career. Her credits include Happy Family, One Day More, Ignorance Is Bliss, and Security. However, some may recognize Bilello from her role as Lila Facchini in the American science fiction drama series Sense8 on Netflix.

Character: As mentioned above, Bilello stars as Natalia in the 2020 comedy-drama movie. Natalia befriends Jack when he comes to Italy to sell his house, and sparks immediately fly between them. She is a cook who owns a restaurant and (unfortunately) shares custody of her eight-year-old daughter with her ex-husband.

Lindsay Duncan As Kate

Actor: Lindsay Duncan plays Kate (not Katie) in Made in Italy. Duncan was born on November 7, 1950, in Scotland. Like Liam Neeson, Duncan's first acting experience came when she starred in school theater productions. Duncan decided to continue pursuing that path, and she trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama when she was 21. The actress's breakout role came in 1986 when she appeared in a stage production of Caryl Churchill's Top Girls.

Notable Movies & TV Shows: Duncan continued acting on the stage over the years, resulting in two Olivier Awards (for her role as Marquise de Merteuil in Les Liaisons Dangereuses and playing Amanda Prynne in Private Lies) and a Tony Award (for Private Lies). However, some of Duncan's most prominent film credits include City Hall, Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Mansfield Park, Under the Tuscan Sun, Alice in Wonderland, About Time (2013), Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), and Gifted.

Character: In Made in Italy, Duncan's character, Kate, is a real estate agent who tries to help Robert and Jack sell their house in Italy.

Made In Italy Supporting Cast & Characters

Marco Quaglia as Luigi - Marco Quaglia stars as Luigi, Natalia's brother-in-law, in Made in Italy. Quaglia has also appeared in The Talented Mr. Ripley, Gasoline, Il più bel giorno della mia vita, and Borgia.

Gian Marco Tavani as Marzio - Marzio, Natalia's ex-husband, is played by Gian Marco Tavani. Aside from the 2020 comedy-drama, Tavani is known for his roles in Emergency Treatment, Canepazzo, and I Hate Christmas.

Lavinia Biagi as Clara - Lavinia Biagi portrays Clara, Natalia's sister, in Made in Italy. Biagi's credits include Il mastino, Manual of Love, Don Matteo, and SKAM Italia.

Gabriele Tozzi as Giovanni - Giovanni is Natalia's father in James D'Arcy's movie, and he is played by Gabriele Tozzi. Aside from Made in Italy, Tozzi has appeared in numerous Italian productions, like Jekyll, La Cecilia, and Un povero ricco.

Yolanda Kettle as Ruth - Yolanda Kettle stars as Ruth, the woman Jack is divorcing in the film. Viewers might recognize Kettle from her roles in The Crown, Howards End, and Roadkill.

Julian Ovenden as Gordon - Gordon, one of half of the obnoxious couple who attempts to buy Robert and Jack's home in the 2020 comedy-drama, is played by Julian Ovenden. Ovenden has also appeared in Allies, The People We Hate at the Wedding, Downton Abbey, Person of Interest, The Crown, and Bridgerton.

Chelsea Fitzgerald as Amy - Chelsea Fitzgerald stars as the other half of the obnoxious couple in Made in Italy, Amy. The actress has also starred in Plastic Gangsters, Call the Midwife and Sister Boniface Mysteries.

Source: Rotten Tomatoes