Dino Tavarone
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
- Starring:
- Luke Kirby, Ginette Reno, (more)
- 2001
A nice guy discovers just how complicated his life can get in this quirky comedy-drama. John Toma (Chris Owens), an Italian immigrant living in Canada, is the manager of a successful Italian restaurant. John's work puts no small amount of pressure on him, and it hardly helps that he's having an affair with Rochelle (Veronika Hurnik), the wife of the owner, Lino Rossi (Dino Tavarone), who is adamant that John take over the business some day. John hardly gets any respite at home, where he has to look after his rather eccentric family. His elderly mother Talia (Nicola Lipman), whose husband abandoned the family years before, refuses to learn to speak English. His thirty-ish sister Celia (Tara Rosling), who is mentally retarded, has recently become keenly interested in sex and motherhood -- and has developed the bad habit of bringing home babies she's taken from women in the neighborhood. And John's younger brother Marco (Kelly Harms) is stumbling through college, more interested in sports than in his grades. John's problems come to a head when Rochelle announces she wants a baby, and since Lino isn't interested in helping her get pregnant, she wants John to do the honors. The Uncles was the first feature film directed by Jim Allodi, who is better known for his work as a character actor. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chris Owens
- 2000
A resident of Montreal, the serially shy Malcolm (Andrew Tarbet) has never had a girlfriend. However, his ability to listen attentively has earned him the friendship of a number of women, including an elderly lady for whom he plays the piano and an abused neighbor he gives shelter. Malcolm's placid, solitary existence comes to an abrupt halt, however, when he meets Alicia (Laia Marull), a hot-blooded Chilean coping with imminent deportation. Against all of his natural inclinations, Malcolm is forced out of his shell by Alicia, even rising to the opportunity of a lusty round of salsa dancing. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laia Marull, Dino Tavarone, (more)
This Canadian film (in French) premiered in the 1999 Sundance Film Festival's World Cinema section. It tells the story of Laurie (Charlotte Laurier) and her love of downhill mountain bike racing. At the start of a big race, Laurie notices a gray hair on her head; her hesitation while noticing this causes her to lose the race by two seconds, forcing her retirement from racing. Angry, she moves to Montreal to stay with her brother, a physicist who is big on loose women and theories of relativity, and she gets a job as a bike messenger. At work, she meets a crusty old man named Lorenzo (Dino Tavarone), who was a champion cyclist himself before settling down and opening a bike shop. Though enemies and competitors at first, they slowly become friends and lovers, and teach each other that time (whether it's 50 years or two seconds) is a relative concept. ~ Arthur Borman, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Charlotte Laurier, Dino Tavarone, (more)
