Mambo Italiano (2003)
July 9th 2010 12:40
Mambo Italiano
This sweet Gay themed film based around lives and loves of the Barberini familly, written by Steve Galluccio - and based on his play - is an enjoyable film that will keep you entertained from beginning to end.
Angelo Barberini (Paul Kirby) is a late twenty-something Canadian-Italian, still living with orally fixated sister Anna (Claudia Ferri), and emotionally volatile parents, Maria & Gino (played fantastically by Ginette Reno and Paul Sorvino). Breaking his mothers heart, Angelo moves out of home, into an apartment of his own.
On his parents first visit, the apartment is broken into and handsome cop Nino Paventi (Peter Miller) responds to the call. Angelo and Nino were childhood friends, until they drifted apart. Over time Angelo and Nino soon become flatmates, and lovers. The love Angelo has for Nino creates an urge to live his life publically, and so, at a family dinner he outs himself to his horrified parents.
Nino, not happy with being outted has a one night stand with Pina Lunetti (Sophia Loraine) an old high school classmate. The Barberini family are having issues of their own as Maria & Gina invite Nino's mother to the family house and tell her that her son is their son's lover. Lina (Mary Walsh) cooks up a plan to invite a single female to the Barberini home for Angelo and too hook up Nino with the Anna Barberini, figuring if he loves the son it will be no stretch to love the daughter.
Angelo & Nino
The dinner is a disaster when Lina arrives with Pina and it is announced that Nino and Pina slept together the night before. Angelo & Nino seperate and in only a few weeks, a wedding invitation arrives at the Barberini home, inviting Maria & Gino to Nino & Pina's wedding. The arrival of the wedding invitation leads to one of the films funniest moments.
The themes of following your heart, coming out, being true to yourself and self acceptance are not new, but Mambo Italiano treats the subject matter gently. The stars of the film handle their roles with wild abandon in this hysterical comedy. Claudia Ferri as Anna stands out in particular as the daughter who won't see the same therapist more than once as it's too much of a committment.
The film is an easy watch, and examines homosexuality in the context of a typical suburban Italian family. The scene at the end as they walk through the public garden plots made me laugh, not because it was funny, but because it takes the idea that "given enough time everything is acceptable" a twist that I was thought leads to really genuine moment.
I have to say I'm not a fan of sad endings - especially in movies like this - and the end Mambo Italiano was not disappointing. It leaves the audience with a sense of hope, and happier days ahead.
If you want a film that is funny, poignant, and has some great one liners, Mambo Italiano comes highly recommended.
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