Ginette Reno Movies
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)
- 1999
A sequel to the popular Quebecois comedy It's Your Turn, Laura, in this go-round, protagonist Laura (Ginette Reno), a rotund middle-aged woman, celebrates her birthday on an ocean cruise with her gossiping girlfriends. Once on board, the romantic intrigue begins. Laura is wooed by the ship's debonair captain, while her friend Lucille makes a valiant go for the extremely gay Oscar. Meanwhile, Laura's other friend Alice tries to shack up with almost everyone while avoiding bumptious butcher Albert. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ginette Reno, Pierrette Robitaille, (more)
- 1998
Denise Filatrault wrote and directed this episodic Canadian comedy adapted from a novel by theater great Michel Temblay. Laura Cadieux (Ginette Reno) joins other overweight Montreal women at a doctor's office for their regular Wednesday diet injections. In truth, they love these weekly waiting-room gatherings as an opportunity for fun, frolic, spats, jokes, songs and dances. Shown at the 1998 Vancouver Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ginette Reno, Pierrette Robitaille, (more)
Jean-Claude Lauzon's highly praised film tells the strange story of Léolo, a young boy from Montréal. Told from Léolo's point-of-view, the film depicts his family of lunatics and Léolo's attempts to deal with them. Not one individual in the boy's life is well adjusted. His brother, after being beaten up, spends the film bulking up on growth protein. The grandfather hires half-naked girls to bite off his toenails and, in a brutal rage, almost kills Léolo. As he witnesses his family decay around him, Léolo retreats into himself and the fantasy world he has constructed. In response to the weirdness of his daily life, Léolo creates a little mental mayhem of his own which Lauzon renders in an amazing series of free-form, surreal images. Eventually, this precarious balance of reality and fantasy cracks and Léolo is hospitalized after attempting to murder his grandfather. The score by Tom Waits underscores the narrative arc of Léolo's breakdown. On its release, the film won numerous awards including the International Fantasy Film Award for Best Director (1992) and a Genie Award for Best Original Screenplay (1992). ~ Brian Whitener, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Maxime Collin, Ginette Reno, (more)
