Mambo Italiano (film)
Encyclopedia
Mambo Italiano is a 2003 comedy
-drama
/indie film
, set in Montreal
, Québec
, Canada
, and directed by Émile Gaudreault
. The screenplay was written by Gaudreault and Steve Galluccio
, based on Galluccio's theatrical play by the same name. The play/film is based on Galluccio's own life and experiences.
) is the oddball son of Italian
immigrants Gino (Paul Sorvino
) and Maria (Ginette Reno
), who inadvertently ended up in Canada
rather than the United States of America. Angelo shocks his parents - and his sister, Anna (Claudia Ferri) - by moving out on his own without getting married, and, shortly after that, shocks them further still when he reveals
that he's gay
. But his boyfriend (and childhood best friend), policeman Nino Paventi (Peter Miller), isn't as ready to come out of the closet
- especially not to his busybody Sicilian mother, Lina (Mary Walsh).
, which explored similar themes of culture clash that are examined in this film and the play it was based upon. Claudia Ferri, who played Angelo's sister Anna in Mambo Italiano, played the lead role in Ciao Bella.
Comedy
Comedy , as a popular meaning, is any humorous discourse or work generally intended to amuse by creating laughter, especially in television, film, and stand-up comedy. This must be carefully distinguished from its academic definition, namely the comic theatre, whose Western origins are found in...
-drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
/indie film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
, set in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Québec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and directed by Émile Gaudreault
Émile Gaudreault
Émile Gaudreault is a Canadian film director and screenwriter, whose credits include the films Louis 19, le roi des ondes, Nuit de noces, Mambo Italiano, Surviving My Mother and De père en flic....
. The screenplay was written by Gaudreault and Steve Galluccio
Steve Galluccio
Steve Galluccio is a Canadian screenwriter. His credits include the films Mambo Italiano , Surviving My Mother and Funkytown, and the television series Ciao Bella.Galluccio is openly gay.-External links:...
, based on Galluccio's theatrical play by the same name. The play/film is based on Galluccio's own life and experiences.
Plot
Angelo Barberini (Luke KirbyLuke Kirby (actor)
-Early life:Luke was born in Hamilton, Ontario, to two American expatriates. His mother is from Brooklyn, New York, and his father grew up "along the eastern seaboard". His parents moved from New York City, New York, to Canada in 1974...
) is the oddball son of Italian
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
immigrants Gino (Paul Sorvino
Paul Sorvino
Paul Anthony Sorvino is an American actor. He often portrays authority figures on both sides of the law, and is possibly best known for his roles as Paulie Cicero, a portrayal of Paul Vario in the film Goodfellas and Sgt. Phil Cerreta on the police procedural and legal drama television series Law...
) and Maria (Ginette Reno
Ginette Reno
Ginette Reno, OC, CQ is a French-Canadian author, composer, singer, and actress. She is known by the nickname .Born as Ginette Reynault in Montreal, Quebec, she played the role of Maria Barberini in the independent film Mambo Italiano and played the mother in Léolo.She has recorded in both...
), who inadvertently ended up in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
rather than the United States of America. Angelo shocks his parents - and his sister, Anna (Claudia Ferri) - by moving out on his own without getting married, and, shortly after that, shocks them further still when he reveals
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
that he's gay
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. But his boyfriend (and childhood best friend), policeman Nino Paventi (Peter Miller), isn't as ready to come out of the closet
Coming out
Coming out is a figure of speech for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people's disclosure of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity....
- especially not to his busybody Sicilian mother, Lina (Mary Walsh).
Follow-up
Galluccio went on to create the television sitcom Ciao BellaCiao Bella
For Don Omar song, see Ciao Bella .Ciao Bella is a Canadian television sitcom that debuted on CBC Television in the 2004-05 television season...
, which explored similar themes of culture clash that are examined in this film and the play it was based upon. Claudia Ferri, who played Angelo's sister Anna in Mambo Italiano, played the lead role in Ciao Bella.
Cast
- Luke KirbyLuke Kirby (actor)-Early life:Luke was born in Hamilton, Ontario, to two American expatriates. His mother is from Brooklyn, New York, and his father grew up "along the eastern seaboard". His parents moved from New York City, New York, to Canada in 1974...
as Angelo Barberini - Claudia Ferri as Anna Barberini
- Peter MillerPeter Miller (actor)Peter Miller is a Canadian actor.Miller currently appears in the centre-piece CBC TV drama MVP. He has appeared in the SRC drama Virginie since 1996. Miller recently portrayed Galeazzo Maria Sforza in the 2009 short-film series Assassin's Creed: Lineage...
as Nino Paventi - Paul SorvinoPaul SorvinoPaul Anthony Sorvino is an American actor. He often portrays authority figures on both sides of the law, and is possibly best known for his roles as Paulie Cicero, a portrayal of Paul Vario in the film Goodfellas and Sgt. Phil Cerreta on the police procedural and legal drama television series Law...
as Gino Barberini - Ginette RenoGinette RenoGinette Reno, OC, CQ is a French-Canadian author, composer, singer, and actress. She is known by the nickname .Born as Ginette Reynault in Montreal, Quebec, she played the role of Maria Barberini in the independent film Mambo Italiano and played the mother in Léolo.She has recorded in both...
as Maria Barberini - Mary Walsh as Lina Paventi
- Sophie LorainSophie LorainSophie Lorain is a French Canadian actress and producer. She is known for having played "Anne Fortier" in the highly-rated television series Fortier that first aired in Quebec, Canada...
as Pina Lunetti - Tim Post as Peter
- Tara Nicodemo as Yolanda/Woman in Airplane/Jolene
- Pierrette Robitaille as Rosetta
- Dino Tavarone as Giorgio
- Mark CamachoMark CamachoMark Camacho is a Canadian actor who has starred in many films, and more notably, some voice acting roles, such as Oliver Frensky in Arthur, Lyle in Animal Crackers, Dad in Rotten Ralph, Harry and Dragon in Potatoes and Dragons, Spritz T...
as Johnny Christofaro - Michel Perron as Father Carmignani
- Lou Vani as Marco
- Diane Lavallée as Mélanie