Two disparate men become unlikely friends in the Italian comedy-drama Two Friends, directed by theater veterans and first-time feature film directors Spiro Scimone and Francesco Sframeli. Paint factory worker Nunzio (Francesco Sframeli) shares a house with the gruff and mysterious Pino (Spiro Scimone, whose play Nunzio provides the basis for the film), whose frequent traveling piques Nunzio's interest. As Nunzio assaults Pino with numerous questions after each trip, Pino provides brief answers without giving away too much information -- since revealing his occupation as a contract killer would put Nunzio into unnecessary and grave danger. But Pino is forced to do just that when Nunzio becomes ill, forcing the assassin to refuse jobs in order to care for his ailing friend -- and thus endangering both men. Two Friends was included in the International Critics' Week Program at the 2002 Venice Film Festival. ~ Ryan Shriver, Rovi