“I Don’t Understand You.” Photo: Vertical
The upcoming dark comedy I Don’t Understand You subverts the “vacation gone wrong” trope by centering on Cole (Andrew Rannells) and Dom (Nick Kroll), a gay couple on the cusp of adopting a baby.
Their pre-baby Italian getaway, intended as a final childless adventure, quickly spirals into chaos.
Despite their comfortable lives and the impending arrival of their adopted child via a cheerful pregnant woman (Amanda Seyfried), Cole and Dom carry the recent memory of a time when marriage and adoption weren’t legal for them. This makes them particularly sensitive to potential homophobia, especially in Italy, where they face a language barrier.
Their attempt at an authentic Italian dining experience in the countryside, arranged by a friend, takes a turn when they meet their host and chef Francesca (Eleonora Romandini). The language barrier obscures her warmth, and a storm leaves them stranded without cell service, transforming their dream trip into a nightmare.
A panicked reaction to an accident leads the couple to desperate cover-ups, further complicated by the arrival of Francesca’s stern son, Massimo (Morgan Spector).
If Cole and Dom survive their Italian “babymoon,” they’ll be leaving behind a body count.
Written and directed by real-life partners Brian Crano and David Joseph Craig, I Don’t Understand You is loosely inspired by their own, less dramatic, journey to parenthood.They revealed that the film’s “inciting incident” is based on a true, “scary” experience where one of them panicked.
