Sicilian Culture: The News & Views: Little Italy Movie

Sicilian Culture

The People, The History, The Culture

The News & Views
Little Italy
Director: Will Parrinello
Running Time: 58:30 min Viewer Rating: 8.50
The Italian American experience embodies the contradictions of every ethnic group that strives to find a place in the American cultural landscape. The film Little Italy goes beyond stereotypes and addresses the universal story of immigration, assimilation and cultural identity. The struggles and triumphs of Italian Americans are revealed through interviews with an eclectic collection of characters including such luminaries as actor Chazz Palminteri, wine maker Robert Mondavi, artist and labor organizer Ralph Fasanella, poet and City Lights publisher Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and author Gay Talese. Their homespun stories, combined with historical film and photographs, take us to the Little Italy of their present lives while providing the viewer with a vision of family, community and ethnic identity in modern America. The program also delves into some painful issues involving discrimination, media stereotyping, and the little known story of Italian American internment during WWII. «We're told that we're white, but we're not treated like we're white,» says poet Diane di Prima in the film. «Yet, we're not accorded Third World acceptance. When I have to check a box for ethnicity, I check, other, and write Sicilian.» The film explores how Little Italy neighborhoods in most cities became a refuge from a hostile culture; a place to renew bonds with cherished friends and relatives, and revitalize lost customs and traditions. It became in essence a state of mind; a link to their homeland.
Little Italy won a Golden Gate Award Certificate at the San Francisco International Film Festival, A Gold Hugo Award at the Chicago International Film Festival, and an Award of Creative Merit at the American International Film Festival. It was produced by the Mill Valley Film Group, which also made the highly acclaimed Kerouac, Compassion is the Key, Sumo Basho, and A Yen For Baseball.
This review is taken from the Website ifilm whom we thank for according the permission of reproduction.
www.ifilm.com/ifilm/skeletons/film_detail/0,1263,111373,00.html

HOME

News & Views || People || History || Region || Language || Food || Cinema || Links || Contact Info