Themes: Mothers and Sons, Fathers and Sons, Twentysomething Life
Main Cast: Sophie Lorain, Pierrette Robitaille, Lou Vani, Luke Kirby, Ginette Reno, Paul Sorvino, Mary Walsh, Claudia Ferri, Peter Miller, Tim Post
Release Year: 2003
Country: CA
Run Time: 88 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Old World values collide with modern-day questions of sexual orientation in this ethnic comedy. Mambo Italiano tells the story of Angelo, a neurotic twentysomething preoccupied with the usual post-adolescent concerns: his job, his creative aspirations as a writer, and his longing to get out of his parents' house. He finally decides to take the plunge on his last goal, a decision that makes parents Gino (Paul Sorvino) and Maria (Ginette Reno) none too happy; they're not about to let one of their offspring leave the house without getting married. What they don't know is that Angelo is gay, a secret he's been keeping from everyone but his understanding older sister Anna (Claudia Ferri). A greater shock yet to the family is that Angelo is moving in with longtime crush Nino (Peter Miller), a local policeman whose sexuality is at odds with his macho profession. As the two lovebirds struggle to make sense of their relationship, both of their families chime in with opinions both helpful and not-so-helpful as they struggle to come to terms with their sons' new lives. Shot and set in Montreal, Mambo Italiano premiered stateside at the 2003 New York Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
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.
Angelo Barberini (Luke Kirby) is the oddball son of Italian immigrants Gino (Paul Sorvino) and Maria (Ginette Reno), who inadvertently ended up in Canada rather than the States. 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).
Follow-up
Galluccio went on to create the television sitcom Ciao Bella, 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.
