Uncle Nino

I saw this movie last night at the Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Director, Producer and Music Director were all on hand to answer questions from the audience after the show.

Uncle Nino is a story about an Italian-American family living in suburban Chicago which suffers--as the Director put it--not so much from being "dysfunctional" as they do from being "disconnected" with one another. Each of them is struggling with their own challenges in life alone: Bobby is having a hard time fitting in at a new school, Gina loves animals and wants a puppy dog, Dad is facing a lot of pressure at work, and Mom just wishes that everybody could sit down to eat dinner at the same time together.

Into their life steps Uncle Nino, a surprise visitor from Italy, who brings with him a passion for music, gardening, Abraham Lincoln, good wine, and his family--in short, all the simple things in life that really matter. While Uncle Nino's old-school ways seem a bit eccentric at first in the flashy world of modern suburbia, the Micelli family soon learns that his presence may have been just what they needed to help them re-connect with one another--even as Uncle Nino struggles to make a connection with a broken part of his own past.

Uncle Nino is an unabashedly warm-hearted movie and, as such, may not have a whole lot to offer the cynical movie-goer (you know who you are). Judging from the reaction of the Festival audience last night, however, the movie seemed to touch a nerve with a lot of people who were just looking for a movie with a positive attitude towards family and life. The Director, Robert Shallcross, even mentioned in the Q&A session after the show that he began making feature films because he was frustrated with the lack of movies coming out of Hollywood that he could take his family to go see. If you find yourself and your own family in the same predicament, then Uncle Nino might be the movie for you.

It is interesting to note that the role of Gina is played by Joe Mantegna's real-life daughter, Gina. And Uncle Nino himself is named after the music director's (Larry Peccarello) own Uncle Nino! Also, the Abraham Lincoln element was an idea of the actor who portrayed Uncle Nino, Pierrino Mascarino.

This is a very sweet movie with a wonderful message about getting your priorities straight. The Uncle Nino character was very well conceived and implemented. All three teen age characters are great. I especially enjoyed Duke Doyle as the "Bones" character. Anne Archer and Joe Mantagne are well cast. It was fun to see the father figure out that it was he that needed the attitude adjustment. The Italy scenes are beautiful and authentic as are the scenes from Glenview, Illinois. I had many laugh out loud moments as well as a couple teary moments. Uncle Nino helps the father character get back to his joy of gardening and I connected with this part of the movie. After I saw the show, I planted sunflower seeds and hope to plant them along my backyard fence. This is definitely a movie that I felt good when I left and I think you will too!

This is one of the better films I have seen in recent years and the message that is brought out from watching it is much different than most movies. You feel great walking out of this one and it grabs you with its rare story seen in movies today. What is that story you may ask? Family is the answer. There are not a lot of films that come along and truthfully depict family life like this one did. It involves a family that is struggling to stay together when there uncle shows up almost out of nowhere. He teaches the family to interact and brings them together to become a unit once again. I enjoyed every minute of this fantastic movie and think that everyone should get a chance to see it. It is very truthful in its story and the family life that is simulated is very realistic to a modern family today. This is a movie for the whole family and can engage an audience of any age. There is one last thing that was rare about this movie no profane language is used, no sex, drugs, alcohol or anything of that matter. The film got a standing ovation when it finished by everyone in the audience and deserved even more. Everyone should see Uncle Nino.

I saw this film in Marco Island. Our group of four seniors loved it. We laughed, got a little teary eyed, and just felt good. This is not just kiddy fare, as a friend said when she saw it in Grand Rapids. Her family's ages are 6-52 and she was thrilled that each of them had enjoyed it thoroughly. Seems everyone we talk to feels there are not enough films the family can see and enjoy together, and that have something worthwhile to say.

This film helped reinforce what's really important in life--your family.

It was great to see the film focus on the shallow and insignificant nature of climbing the corporate ladder when put into the context of living life with those you love.

And lastly, the film really cemented the connection between the value of bonds between generations. We can learn so much from the elder members of our families and they can do likewise from the younger members. So often we tell ourselves "they wouldn't understand." Yet, we find both the older and younger generations do grasp much from each other--if only they take the time to try.