A Bronx Tale is a 1993 American crime drama film
Release date April 20, 1994 (2h 01min)
From Robert De Niro
With Francis Capra, Lillo Brancato, Taral Hicks more
Genre Drama
American nationality
Trailer
SPECTATORS
SYNOPSIS AND DETAILS
The history of the 1960s Italian community in the Bronx through the
eyes of nine-year-old Calogero, who hesitates between the life of his father,
an honest worker, and that of the freedmen, who seems more promising.
Bronx of the 1960s. Fordam is ruled by the mafia. Sicilians reign
as masters and orchestrate as they see fit the activity of the neighborhood.
Casting: MainstarsIt was once the Bronx
Francis Capra
Taral Hicks
Katerine Narducci
Joe Pesci
Robert De Niro
Synopsis
In New York City, in the Bronx of the 1960s, the Fordam district is
ruled by the mafia. The Sicilians rule as masters and orchestrate as they see
fit the activity of the district. Lorenzo Anello, bus driver and father of a
family of Italian descent, will do everything to prevent his son Calogero from
attending this environment he considers unhealthy.
The child, witness of a murder committed by capo Sonny, will lie to
the police in order to respect the famous law of silence, the omerta. From that
day, Sonny will consider Calogero as his own son. So, nothing will be more like
before ...
Technical sheet
• Original title: A Bronx Tale
• Production company: Price Entertainment, B.T. Films, Tribeca
Productions
• Distribution Company: Savoy Pictures, Cipa, Home Office Home
Video Box (HBO)
• Cameraman: Reynaldo Villalobos
• Special effects: Steven Kirshoff
• Released: September 14, 1993 (Canada), September 29, 1993 (USA),
April 20, 1994 (France)
Distribution
• Robert De Niro :
Lorenzo Anello
• Chazz Palminteri :
Sonny LoSpecchio
• Tony Sirico: un mafiosi
• Lillo Brancato :
Calogero 'C' Anello (17 ans)
• Francis Capra :
Calogero 'C' Anello (9 ans)
• Taral Hicks : Jane
Williams
• Kathrine Narducci :
Rosina Anello
• Clem Caserta : Jimmy
Whispers
• Alfred Sauchelli Jr. :
Bobby Bars
• Frank Pietrangolare :
Danny K.O
• Joe Pesci : Carmine
• Robert D'Andrea : Tony
Toupee
• Eddie Montanaro : Eddie
Mush
• Fred Fischer : JoJo the
Whale
• Dave Salerno : Frankie
Coffeecake
• Joe D'Onofrio : Slick
(Age 17)
• Luigi D'Angelo : Aldo
(Age 17)
• Louis Vanaria : Crazy
Mario (Age 17)
• Dominick Rocchio :
Ralphie (Age 17)
• Patrick Borriello :
Slick (Age 9)
• Paul Perri : Crazy
Mario (Age 9)
• Thomas A. Ford : Phil
the Peddler
• Rocco Parente : Driver
(Hey Marie!)
• Joe Black : Murdered
Man
• Louis Gioia : Last
Rites Priest
• Mitch Kolpan :
Detective Belsik
• Phil Foglia : Detective
Vella
• Richard DeDomenico :
Priest
• Max Genovino : Louie
Dumps
• Ralph Napolitano : Gino
• Steve Kendall : Red
Beard
• A.J. Ekoku : A.J
• Sobe Bailey : Willy
Paul Gualtieri
In New York, in the Bronx borough of the 1960s, the Fordam
neighborhood is ruled by the mafia. The Sicilians reign as masters and
orchestrate as they see fit the activity of the neighborhood. Lorenzo Anello, a
bus driver and father of a family of Italian origin, will do everything to
prevent his son Calogero from attending this environment that he considers
unhealthy.
The child, then 9 years old, witnesses a murder committed by Capo
Sonny. When he is questioned by the police, he will lie to respect the famous
law of silence, omerta. From that day, Sonny will consider Calogero as his own
son. So, nothing will be like before ..
Trailer
Critical
Once upon a time there was the Bronx, the first film directed by
the famous Robert De Niro, taken from the play with the same name of Chazz
Palminteri as part of the cast of the film. I must admit having seen it a
second time to be able to establish a criticism worthy of the name since my
first projection began date a little. Well, no surprise, the film is as in my
memory, I could even find the feelings that inhabited me the first time I saw
it and I sincerely believe that this case is rare. However, around me, the film
divides but the important thing remains, the film makes discuss, to discuss.
From the first minutes, we are captivated, the monologue is fair,
well paced and the images that follow are perfectly well mastered. The sound
agrees to the image in a remarkable way, moreover, I particularly like this
type of introduction, it allows to better realize the places, the characters,
the time too. It's as if we were a newcomer to the neighborhood, we feel
concerned about the story. Moreover, it should be noted that this monologue is
often used in the film to present things.This is the narrator of the story,
which is none other than Lilio Brocanto who interprets the role of Calogero.
The second roles bring a lot of richness to the story because they all have
their little quirks, their character traits that make them all endearing.
This is only my opinion but I think De Niro shines in this kind of
role and film and I can not really understand his career choice today, the fact
that he ends up in small roles in comedies romantic, or comedy (even if I like
the genre) depreciates when you see his filmography which for me is simply
impressive (Raging Bull, Once upon a time in America, godfather II or the
freedmen, casino ...). I am perfectly aware that Robert De Niro has absolutely
nothing to prove to anyone, but it remains De Niro all the same, He has become
a legend, he must remain so. For me De Niro will remain a gangster, a boxer or
a mafia.
Let's close the parenthesis Career De Niro and let's go back to the
fact. Once upon a time the Bronx is wonderful in the themes it addresses,
themes are all difficult.Indeed, the mafia, racism (Italian and Black in the
60s had an unprecedented hatred). Racism De Niro marks very directly through
raw dialogues, filled with vulgarities but also indirectly and subjectively
through small details including the musical choice, once we enter the black
neighborhoods, we find Soul music, jazz of which Jimi Hendrix and others
actually have popularity. The film, however, addresses noble themes such as
respect, loyalty, family, place and respect for the father etc ... Note that
the film is quite autobiographical, De Niro interprets the role of his father
to whom the film is dedicated .
For once, I know that I have repeated many times in my previous
reviews, in this film I have not found lengths, in my opinion, the story flows
with great fluidity. In general, the film brings me a lot of joy, I find it
very intimate, warm and despite the few scenes of violence that will follow. I
really like this father / son relationship. But I will try not to reveal the
story. I have collected several opinions about this Once Upon a Time, some have
obviously loved it and others have found this report to the Mafia very little
credible, overplayed, as if the director took the middle and the subject has
the light but frankly me I do not find, I think it happens in this way at the
time and then it is a work close to the director so the staging is closer to
the memories of the latter. He told and filmed the story based on his memory
and even if the film has flaws, imperfections and that's why I find it
beautiful because it makes it genuine and sincere. De Niro gives us a part of
its history and its experience, so there is no cheating in the emotions, the
setting and the interpretation of the actors. I think the director wanted
precisely to make us forget the mafia and violent side to transmit human values
and family.
Once upon a time, the Bronx was unfolding politics and questioning
about the working class, the worker. It is partly a criticism of the society of
the time that when we think about it does not necessarily evolve. Racism,
violence and work-related poverty are still a problem in the world and may be
even more noticeable, so, coincidence or true warning? It's up to you to judge!
personally I think there is a little of both, no one can predict the future but
maybe in the 90s, De Niro wanted to warn us through his story, warn us of any
major problems of society, if so, he was not wrong. I do not have the ability
to really say if the director wanted to take sides or if he simply wanted to
tell a story nonetheless I give my opinion, and it is worth it!
This film is to discover for its history, its characters, for the
discovery of a part of the childhood in De Niro if we have a fan of the master,
for his very human side and his reality on the American society and world of
the time. Good film !
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