High Stakes - A Night In The Ward

It’s Ferragosto, Italy’s mid-August holiday, in a practically deserted hospital in Naples. Two nurses, Angelo and Salvatore, are on shift when a desperately ill patient is wheeled in. With his seasoned eye, Angelo knows at once that Mr. Caputo won’t last the night. Salvatore happens to loathe Angelo and decides to bet on the opposite outcome. The winner of the bet will nab the top holiday slot: Christmas vacation. Angelo takes up the challenge. From that moment on, Salvatore will spend the night trying to keep Mr. Caputo alive, while Angelo will play dirty to make sure he wins the bet. That night, it’s anything goes at their hospital, from the nurses’ cheap shots to doctors on cocaine and suspicious characters lurking in the ward.

Directed by Giovanni Dota, High Stakes - A Night In The Ward leans on a strong ensemble — Carlo Buccirosso, Lino Musella, Nando Paone — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 2024.