FREE ESSAY ON ITALIAN-AMERICAN TRADITIONS IN FILM

ITALIAN-AMERICAN TRADITIONS IN FILM

Work Ethic
A Bronx tale is a story of a father who tries to win back the love and pride of his son
from a showy neighborhood mob boss. In my opinion this film is the best portrayal of work
ethic. Lorenzo, played by Robert DeNiro, plays a father who tries to teach his son that
discipline and hard work pay off from working, in the long. His son Calogero, played by
Lillo Brancato, is exposed to the life of a mob boss Sonny, played by Chazz Palmenteri,,
and doesn't understand why he should live a life of difficulty when he can have a life of
luxury. He tries to explain to his son that the men in the community don't look up to
him, but rather they fear him He also tries to make clear that it's easy to do what he
does, but try waking up every morning and working everyday, that's a real man. 
Throughout the film Sonny and Calogero develop a very close relationship. More than just
a friendship, Calogero looks up to him as if he were a father figure. Sonny tells
Calogero that he does not want him to do what he does, he does it because he has to; he
has no other way out. He wants Calogero to finish school and make something of himself,
and not to follow in his footsteps. Sonny feels like there's always someone out there out
to get him and never feels safe. He doesn't want Calogero to have to go through the same
thing. 
In the film Sonny murdered another person because of the fact that he took he took his
parking spot. This haunting feeling he has throughout the film finally comes true in the
final scene of the movie as the son of the father that was murdered earlier comes back
for vengeance and kills Sonny. This action of revenge is another stereotype of
Italian-American men. As the film ends Calogero is in the prime of his life so we do not
know how his life continues. The viewer, in this case me, thinks that because of this
dreadful ending Calogero will follow the advice of Sonny and his father to complete
school and life his life like every other hard working individual in America, because as
his father mentioned earlier hard work pays off in the end.
Comparing and contrasting the use of food in two separate films
The first film that shows the use of food in a film is in fatso. As the title implies the
main character is a little overweight. He feels that food is the center of his life;
everything he does revolves around food. The opening scene is the wake of his cousin that
takes place in his home. In the next scene he goes to the kitchen and has himself some
bread with sauce. This is a perfect example of when he is depressed he relies on food to
cheer him up. Food has become an addiction for him, whenever things are not right he
needs some food to make things better. The same way some other people run to alcohol to
solve their problems. In the film he meets a girl and she changes his life drastically.
He feels he has to impress her and look his best. In order to complete this task he must
give up food entirely. Even though this seems impossible for a person in his position he
has the discipline and will power to overcome this feat.
The second film, entitled Big Night, is about two brothers who try and run a business
together, specifically a restaurant. Since they are trying to run a restaurant, the food
is the center of the film, without the food there is no restaurant. The older brother
Primo, named so because he was the first son born, tries to make the food very
traditional and tries to give the customer what he wants. The younger brother Secondo,
named so because he was the second born, tries to think of it from a business
perspective. He tries to explain to his brother that he has to give the customer what
they want not what he (Secondo) wants. In the end of the film the two brothers expect a
very well respected musician to dine at their restaurant. In order for them to pick their
business they must not only impress him but also the reporters. The only way to do so is
with their traditional recipes, brought right from Italy, so food plays a very important
role. Throughout the film the two brothers are trying to prepare for this ultimate feast,
which brings their relationship closer. 
Another example that shows the use or importance of food in a film is in Household
Saints. The opening scene shows a family having a picnic, which starts to tell the story
of the saint. The next and probably the most important example that shows the importance
of food is the scene where she must cook a meal for Santangelo. He father stresses the
importance of this meal and that the food must be perfect. As the meal concludes
Santangelos mother disproves of her because of the fact that she cannot cook properly.
This shows that since she cannot cook she cannot have her son's hand in marriage, which
is quite peculiar, since a meal can decide a marriage.
Even though these movies are entirely different in their plots, food plays a key role in
each film. In the first film the main character relies on food for support and in the
second the two brothers try to impress their guest with their food, who never shows up. 
Portrayal of masculinity
Two films that portray masculinity in this course are Mac and True Love. Mac is a film
that shows the relationship of three brothers who you would think come close together as
the movie proceeded but eventually separate. The three brothers are contractors who
decide to go into business for themselves. Mac reveals the portrayal of masculinity, and
the way I perceived his masculinity is through his hard work, discipline and
determination. He is willing to get up every morning and go to work to support himself
and his eventual wife. To me this shows the meaning of a man and further masculinity.
The second film that portrays masculinity is exhibited in True Love. The main character,
which I think is named Mike but I don't know if this is correct, portrays his masculinity
through his intimidation. Although he doesn't support his wife, and we know this because
there a scene where she calls him from her work, he tries to intimidate her with his
power that he thinks he possesses. It seems that he would rather spend time with his
buddies than with his wife, which I think is wrong. If he truly loved her as the title
implies he would have stayed with her not because he felt he had to but because he wanted
to. 
Even though these two films portray masculinity in two separate ways they still do show
masculinity. Mac is a dedicated worker, whom personally I respect, who tries to support
his family through his hard work. Mike, in True Love, is a man who has everything in the
palm of his hands and doesn't even realize it. He takes everything, especially his wife,
for granted.