The Meter Reader

The Meter Reader, also known as The Man Who Checks the Meter, is a 1995 Italian drama film co-written and directed by Stefano Incerti, at his feature film debut. It premiered at the 52nd Venice International Film Festival.

Cast

as Crescenzio
Roberto De Francesco as Beniamino
as Giuliana
Renato Carpentieri as the Boss
as the Mother
Teresa Saponangelo as Valeria
Enzo Moscato as the Psychopath
Antonio Pennarella as Renato
as the Doorman

Production

Incerti worked on the project for four years. Principal photography started in December 1994.

Release

The film premiered at the 52nd edition of the Venice Film Festival, in the Overtaking Lane sidebar.

Reception

For this film Incerti won the David di Donatello for David di Donatello for [Best Directorial Debut|Best New Director] and the Grolla d'oro for Best Director.
Variety's critic David Rooney described the film as a "melancholy drama" that "overcomes a fragile script with astute assembly of its fragmentary narrative", and wrote: "Familiar themes of loneliness and alienation are explored with originality, economy and firm control".