Italianamerican Explained

Italianamerican
Director:Martin Scorsese
Producer:Elaine Attias
Bert Lovitt
Saul Rubin
Starring:Catherine Scorsese
Charles Scorsese
Martin Scorsese (uncredited)
Cinematography:Alec Hirschfeld
Editing:Bert Lovitt
Runtime:49 mins
Country:United States
Language:English

Italianamerican is a 1974 American documentary film directed by Martin Scorsese and featuring his parents Catherine and Charles, who reflect on their experiences as the children of Italian immigrants to New York City.

Synopsis

Over dinner at their New York apartment on Elizabeth Street, Martin engages his parents in a lively and candid discussion about their lives, discussing such topics as their upbringing, family, religion, marriage, their Italian ancestors, post-war life in Italy, and the hardships of poor Sicilian immigrants striving to succeed in America.[1] [2] Catherine also demonstrates her technique for cooking meatballs, a recipe later printed in the end credits of the film.[3]

Reception

Italianamerican was received positively after its screening at the 1974 New York Film Festival, with the New York Daily News reporting the film "completely charmed" the "usually blase festival audience."[4]

Home video

On May 26, 2020, the Criterion Collection released Scorsese Shorts, a compilation of five early short films directed by Scorsese: Italianamerican, , , What's a Nice Girl Like You Doing in a Place Like This? and It's Not Just You, Murray![5]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Garrett . Robert . 1990-06-02 . A Self-Portrait of Martin Scorsese at ICA . The Boston Globe . 10.
  2. News: . 1990-09-07 . Scorsese Is at Home with Personal Films . The Detroit Free Press . 4C.
  3. Web site: Catherine Scorsese's pasta & meatballs recipe. May 27, 2018.
  4. News: Carroll . Kathleen . 1975-08-17 . A Director in the Family . The New York Daily News . L7.
  5. Web site: Scorsese Shorts. May 26, 2020.