Ribena and vasectomies were the stuff of the dad-lit phenomenon spearheaded by Tony Parsons and Nick Hornby a few years ago. Italian actor Kim Rossi Stuart’s impressive directorial debut strays into similar territory with altogether less sugary results. Eleven-year-old Tommi (Morace) lives with his dad (Stuart) and older sister.

Their mum – we learn from coded conversation at a family get-together – has walked out on them, but when she shows up on the doorstep of their Rome flat, tears flowing, they let her back in. What follows is the compellingly observed tangle of family life. By the skin of his teeth, Rossi Stuart holds back melodrama, showing us how kids are so often clear-eyed witnesses to their parents’ worst behaviour. Both children give natural performances, lovely to watch, Tommi rebuffing his mum’s needy and clumsy affection.

Dir Kim Rossi Stuart 2006. Italy. 108 mins. NC16. Alessandro Morace, Kim Rossi Stuart, Barbora Bobulova, Marta Nobili, Pietro De Silva.

Along the Ridge is showing as part of the Italian Film Festival 2008.