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Bruno (2000) -- Bruno is the story of a unique young boy genius, Bruno (Alex D. Linz), whose expression of his own individuality leads his family and community along an emotional journey...

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Overview

User Rating:
6.1/10   662 votes
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Director:
Writer:
David Ciminello (writer)
Contact:
View company contact information for Bruno on IMDbPro.
Genre:
Tagline:
The comedy that is long on originality and short on pants. more
Plot:
Bruno is the story of a unique young boy genius, Bruno (Alex D. Linz), whose expression of his own individuality... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
NewsDesk:
(5 articles)
Sandip Soparrkar, Jessy Randhawa set to tie the knot
 (From RealBollywood. 2 December 2009, 9:49 AM, PST)

DVD Playhouse--November 2009
 (From The Hollywood Interview. 14 November 2009, 6:25 PM, PST)

User Comments:
Quirky And Intriguing Attempt At Americanizing The 1997 French Gender-Bender Entitled "Ma Vie En Rose". more (29 total)

Cast

  (Credited cast)

Alex D. Linz ... Bruno Battaglia

Shirley MacLaine ... Helen

Gary Sinise ... Dino Battaglia

Kathy Bates ... Mother Superior
Stacey Halprin ... Angela
Kiami Davael ... Shawniqua

Joey Lauren Adams ... Donna Marie

Jennifer Tilly ... Dolores
Brett Butler ... Sister Della Rosa
Bing Putney ... Bernard

Gwen Verdon ... Barbara Weetman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Derin Altay ... Nosy Woman
Jennifer A. Barnes ... Reporter
Barry Bell ... Wilkinson
Karen Bonner ... Nurse #3
Jacob Bosch ... Boy #1
Beatrice Boyle ... Sister Mary Elaine
Pierre Brulatour ... Officer #2

Monica Bugajski ... Claudia
Tamara Burnham ... Nurse #1
Jill Callahan ... Sheila Ribundo Fine
Joseph Casterline ... Murphy

Juliet Cesario ... Nurse #2
Ashley Monique Clark ... Girl #2
Christian Durango ... Young Dino
Jessie Gibbs ... Student #1

Dylan Hubbard ... Signorelli
Lee Hughes
Robert Hughes ... Student #2
Rasool J'Han ... Reporter

Mark Joy ... Benny

Lainie Kazan ... Sister Mary Shirley
Deann Korbutt ... Female Officer

David F. Maxwell ... Reporter
Tamara Burnham Mercer ... Nurse #1
Anita Muccia ... Sister Thelma

Patt Noday ... Newspaper Photographer

Joanne Pankow ... Sister Consolata
Jordan Perry
Kyle Phillips

Freddy Robinson ... Newscrew
Ellie Marissa Ruttenberg ... Girl #1
Ty Sears ... Featured Reporter

Aimee Sullivan ... Julia
Robert C. Treveiler ... Doctor (as Robert Treveiler)
Hank Troscianiec ... Paramedic
Barbara Weetman ... Woman
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
The Dress Code (USA) (alternative title)
more
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for rude language, mean-spirited behavior and some thematic material.
Runtime:
108 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Sound Mix:
Certification:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Last film project for Gwen Verdon. more
Goofs:
Continuity: At the end of the film when Bruno is about to board the plane, he hugs multiple people over the shoulder. When the camera cuts to a different angle, he is seen hugging under the shoulder during what is supposed to be the same hug. more
Movie Connections:
References Apocalypse Now (1979) more

FAQ

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8 out of 8 people found the following comment useful.
Quirky And Intriguing Attempt At Americanizing The 1997 French Gender-Bender Entitled "Ma Vie En Rose"., 6 October 2005
7/10
Author: skin-and-bones from United States

Warped and yet strangely enjoyable coming-of-age flick meets social-commentary from actor-cum-director Shirley MacLaine who is herself a bit of an odd duck in both her professional and her personal life, i.e. the dozen or so claims throughout the 1980's that she's both died and been reincarnated. Alex D. Linz plays a quiet young spelling-bee champ and Catholic school boy named Bruno, who due to some sort-of religious epiphany decides that he'll start wearing little girls dresses (regardless of it being in public or not) so as to find and hopefully experience a supposed "divine state of grace". His fellow classmates and virtually everyone (the singular exception being Bruno's reclusive and obese dress-sewing mother who forever supports him no matter what he wants to do) are thoroughly shocked and utterly disgusted at this seemingly normal little boy's sudden strange revelation, and as a result treats him as if he were now a side-show attraction or all-around outcast. Some quirky cameos from actors who you'd never in a million years think that they'd do something like this such as Gary Sinise (!?) playing Bruno's constantly embarrassed and ashamed father, Kathy Bates as a hateful and prejudiced Mother Superior and comedian Brett Butler portraying a caring nun and teacher are just a scant few of the more noteworthy performers here, and even the aging MacLaine herself gives an appropriately funny turn as the boy's crotchety grandma (decked out all in plaid, a cigar constantly dangling from her lips and a salt-and-pepper wig no less). Overall, 2000's little-seen indie "The Dress Code" (it was just simply "Bruno" where I saw it) is no doubt a different take on the whole gender dysphoria. Though, to be truly honest here you don't really know whether to say it is just a totally wrong-headed and rather perverted remake of 1997's brilliantly subtle and extremely colorful French effort called "Ma vie en Rose" with a great deal more of overtly religious Catholic symbolism (which there was not an iota of in that film), or instead a sly and clever little social commentary on how society -particularly people influenced by a certain religious practice such as Catholicism for instance- will never really be understanding of those that choose a different kind of lifestyle and dress code (no pun intended as it is also the film's title) as opposed to what is considered the norm. Personally I think it's a bit of both when you get right down to brass tax, and I also think that in it's own unique way it's even a little better than the aforementioned film "Ma vie en Rose" in that for an American production it chooses a touchy subject matter and twists it all about to ultimately come up with something that is by film's end somewhat intriguing and quite bold! If you're not a homophobe or an easily offended follower of the Catholic faith then this is a movie that I strongly suggest you take some time to seek out. The performances above all else are surprisingly touching here and worth the time and effort to watch, especially that of young Alex D. Linz who plays the titled character of Bruno. (***1/2 out of *****)

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Better than another movie with this title. phillylilmermaid
little girl kenna76
Why not? Sam-285
A Not So Different Different Ending somethings911
This movie should NOT be classified as a 'Comedy' ispamforfood
lookalike? ruinedatbirth
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