Milan is affected by the economic crisis and Antonio, a middle-aged man, works as a substitute for people who have to leave their workplaces temporarily. He has to do any work given to him by a broker but he remains full of optimism. One day, he meets a woman called Lucia on a construction site and his optimism is immediately challenged. Italian master Gianni Amelio’s new feature is an original comedy about the economic crisis that has encroached on modern Europe for several years. The camera silently follows the daily life of the main character, who literally does everything a day worker could do. Antonio carries out tasks that are worse than basic part-time jobs and he is worried about not finding a task. Nevertheless, he is a happy person giving hope to people around him. Depicting such a character would require an insight into the hidden side of capitalism and unlimited hope and support for humanity. Antonio’s smiling face at the end symbolizes the director’s message of encouragement for the young generation currently facing its own challenges. The film not only points out the hidden side of capitalism but it also shines with humanism, which encourages people to bounce back in this tough world. (RHEE Soue-won)