Mambo Italiano (Canada)

I loved this comedy film. I had seen it before long time ago but got an opportunity to catch it again and get a chance to review it on my blog. Based on a statement that there can be nothing worse than being gay and Italian, this film uses this thread to spun a story around it and what a story! I must say. Thoroughly entertaining and keeping viewer's interest alive all the film while keeping a smile on face, this film is worth sending your time on it.

This is the story of Gino and his family. His parents migrated to Canada right after their wedding. Anna and then Gino were born. Apparently Italian's dont move out of their house unless they get married or they die. Fearing this, Gino decides to take some action and move out. This comes as a huge surprise to his family and there is this whole melodrama. After moving out, Gino meets his childhood buddy Nino who once used to be very good friends with him but started ignoring Gino when Gino became the butt of all jokes in school and everyone teased him for being gay. Things have changed now. Nino moves in with Gino and they become lovers except Nino doesn't want anyone to know about this except the 2 of them because he too is Italian. Gino can't hide things anymore. When Anna suddenly discovers her brother in bed with Nino, Gino decides to tell his parents. They in turn tell Nino's parents. More emotional melodrama. Because of all this humiliation, Nino decides to move out and start dating a girl from school and decides to get married. Gino's heart is broken but he decides to move ahead in life despite that and meets a nice guy. Meanwhile, Nino does get married and there is a hint that he is still closet gay. Gino's parents finally come around and are proud to accept their son's sexuality.

The plot is thin but its the stereotypical Italian references that make the film so funny and watchable. The interactions between the neighbors, the hitting on head by parents for their children etc. It vaguely reminded me of 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' but thats only because both the films showed a typical stereotype family. The film avoids showing or depicting any uncomfortable gay scenes between the 2 men so that people of all orientation can enjoy this film. The sets are visually rich and appealing, and are always colourful and carefully constructed. The character development is great, and we care about the characters in the film. Anna, as the neurotic sister is hilarious. The arguments of the parents are very lively and funny, and are entertaining to watch. I loved it when the arents decide what to do to RSVP for Nino's wedding. The church confesion scene towards the end of the film is also hilarious and so are so many other scenes. Gino was cute though I really didn't care much for Nino.

You really have to watch this film to enjoy it. (8/10)

The Shortest Distance is Round 3: Fallen Flowers

Continuing with the weird trilogy of "The Shortest Distance", I am so glad that finally I am done with part 3 and won't have to deal with this again in future. Thankfully, as of now the makers have not announced any further parts; which will save all of us on this earth from the embarrassment of watching this in near future. After the first 10 minutes are used in sort of recapping bits of first two parts, the story moves forward. Haruto is now starting to have feelings for Ruka, the mysterious pole dancer from second part. In a fit of rage, Ruka ends up killing the goat man and to save him and Haruto, Shibahara asks them to go underground. Meanwhile Shibahara continues the search for Seiya (the guy who had cut off Haruto's penis). It turns out Seiya is now also taking care of the original club owner from part 1. Both of them were released after they had informed Shibahara of Aoyama's secret location. Shibahara tortures Seiya's boyfriend leading to Seiya killin...

Sei no Gekiyaku (Japanese) [Dangerous Drugs of Sex]

Every person has their own unique way of dealing with loss. This film is as much a psychological thriller as it is a soft porn BDSM portrayal of two young men that makes the film overall horrifying as well as humane. It is really hard to describe the genre of this film in one word. Its important not that the film has some really disturbing scenes so if you go into seeing this film, please proceed with caution. Although any sexual non-consensual activity is not ok, this film has its won strange way of showing that suicide is not the only solution to all life's problems. Makoto is a regular office goer, who just finds out that his girlfriend is probably cheating on him. ON top of it, his parents sudden death coming back from a trip that he forced them to take, he gets completely dejected and decides to commit suicide. Unknown to him, he is saved by mysterious man Yoda Ryoji, and he wakes up finding himself tied up in leather and belts in a very BDSM setting. This mysterious saver soo...

One Summer Night (Korean)

I really wanted to like this film but for non native speakers, these movie leaves a lot to be understood and the way scenes were unfolding in front of me, I wasn't sure many times what was really going on. The story had potential button getting any back story on any of the characters limited my ability to empathize with any of these actors. Film starts with two North Korea military guys Yong Joon and Jae Sung having sex and they are caught red handed and they run. Three years later we see Yong Joon in Seoul leading a very mundane and poor life. He has a boyfriend Tae-Kyu, who is a weird guy. He is carefree, doesn't do any work and is completely emotional and financially dependent on Young Joon. In fact, even Yong Joon will go to any lengths to protect him , fend for him and taking care of him to the extent of even taking up prostitution. Suddenly one day Jae Sung appears in their life again. His motivation is not clear but it is obvious he wants Yong Joon back in his life, who ...

Unknown said…

I saw this film on the big screen when it first came out and I loved it too! It made me think about my parents a lot and I loved the end scene when they are proudly walking with their son. I loved the director's use of color throughout the film as well : )

March 16, 2011 at 11:03 AM

Golu said…

Yay!! My Sweety posted a comment. Agreed with all your points

March 17, 2011 at 11:01 AM

KJ said…

i also like this movie. it's a good combination of drama and comedy.

April 25, 2011 at 12:17 PM

mickel said…

i like this film.
i already watch it before and able to watch it earlier.
i didn't know if i am so shallow ,but the scene when Niño return his key made me a teary eyes. (remember when my room mate did the same).
i guess life experience change how to relate a film...

good film by the way.it was very entertaining. repeatable...

August 20, 2012 at 1:05 PM

First off, I have this film and the name of the main character is Angelo not Gino. I lived in Italy and some of what seems silly is actually true because I was in university and time and time again, when parents, especially mothers, visited their "bambini" or grown men whom they still treated like little boy, I actually thought it was very comical that they did this and one mother commented that I came from cold culture but Mexican American moms can be just as bad and my own father was a case in point. While Angelo's parents try to control him due to fear, which is really based on love, Nico's widowed mother is very manipulative and she's the one calling the shots in Nico's life. It won't be Giuseppina, the all out slut whom Nico marries. Remember when the wedding starts and the priest asks if there is anyone who has a reason why Nino and that woman shouldn't be married? Maria whispers to her husband "Where do I start?" What I find really interesting here is that this film starts with Angelo calling the gay helpline saying that "I'm totally fucked." A lot of this has to do with the meddling and over-protection of his parents but there is also something at work here. Nico may be the more athletic, muscular and butch cop but Angelo turns out to be the stronger person in the end because he once it is clear that Nino is getting married. While the wedding is going on the now newly independent from Nico, Angelo goes back to get the hot counselor who isn't Italian. That is a big step and I love the line that at the end with the Italian wife comments to her husband "At least he could have chosen a gay Italian boy as his boyfriend." True love wins out and underneath it all, Angelo's parents do love their son and they come to accept him for who he is even if the truth was hard for them, at first, to accept. Nino's the loser here because he will have that manipulative mother his entire life and he will remain and immature little "bambino" his entire adult life.

January 31, 2017 at 10:52 AM

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