Main Cast: Annabella Sciorra, Ron Eldard, Star Jasper, Aida Turturro, Roger Rignack
Release Year: 1989
Country: US
Run Time: 104 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
Independent filmmaker Nancy Savoca's True Love stars Annabella Sciorra as a none-too-bright young lady who evinces untapped brilliance in getting her boyfriend Ron Eldard to the altar. Sciorra's work is certainly cut out for her: Eldard, who prefers chumming around with his old high school chums, is a virtual stranger to the word "commitment." Even so, a wedding date is set, and the guests begin gathering. Will the bells peal for Sciorra, or is she in for another let-down? Hardly original material, True Love scores in its "little truths" about the characters: these are people that you and I know all too well, no matter what our social standing in life. Co-written by Nancy Savoca and her husband Richard Guay, the film won first prize at the Utah-based US Film Festival. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Nancy Savoca's directorial debut, True Love, has all the trappings of one of the most overworked genres in movie history -- the ethnic-wedding comedy. In this case, two emotional Italians and their respective eccentric and extroverted families partake in all of the usual pre-wedding jitters and party planning familiar to anyone who has seen a film like this. But, as with her later films, Savoca shows she cares far too much for her characters and has a much better understanding of human behavior than the average person. Both the would-be husband (Ron Eldard) and bride-to-be (Annabella Sciorra) are equally likable and annoying. While the generic comedy would keep the couple lovable the entire time, both of these characters are flawed in real ways. Where he has not yet grown up, she is too afraid to believe she could marry outside her neighborhood. The final scene of the film in which neither bride nor groom can quite smile for a wedding photo because they are beginning to understand how difficult their life together might be even though they love each other offers a bittersweet ending that forces the viewer to rethink what they have just seen. Produced by Jonathan Demme, True Love showed that Nancy Savoca had a clear understanding of people. Many filmmakers have had greater acclaim with less skill than that. She would follow though on that early promise with her next two films Dogfight and Household Saints. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Michael J. Wolfe - Brian; Kelly Cinnante - Yvonne; Rick Shapiro - Kevin; Vincent Pastore - Angelo; Marianne Leone - Carmella; John Nacco - Benny; Ann Tucker - Barbara; Marie Michaels - Chickie; Bill Bastiani - Joe Chicken; Dale Carman - Father Frank; Suzanne Costallos - Fran; Mary Portser - Trudy; Steve Randazzo - Ernie; Christopher Shaw - Furniture Salesman; David Stepkin - Deli Customer; Saverio Guerra - Frankie
Credit
Pamela Woodbridge - Art Director, Richard Guay - Co-producer, Deborah Anderko - Costume Designer, Richard Guay - First Assistant Director, Nancy Savoca - Director, John Tintori - Editor, Chris Bingham - Makeup, Lester Cohen - Production Designer, Lisa Rinzler - Cinematographer, Shelley Houis - Producer, Jessica Lanier - Set Designer, Richard Guay - Screenwriter, Nancy Savoca - Screenwriter
True Love is a 1989comedy film directed by Nancy Savoca. An unflinching look at the realities of love and marriage which offers no "happily ever after" ending, it won the Grand Jury Prize at the 1989 Sundance Film Festival.
Selected cast
Joey Lockwood and Cory Berg are a real life example of true love as seen
