Unsettling drama about three generations of Italian-American women struggling to get by in post-World War II New York's Little Italy.
Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Tracey Ullman | ... | Catherine Falconetti | |
Vincent D'Onofrio | ... | Joseph Santangelo | |
Lili Taylor | ... | Teresa | |
Judith Malina | ... | Carmela Santangelo | |
Michael Rispoli | ... | Nicky Falconetti | |
Victor Argo | ... | Lino Falconetti | |
Michael Imperioli | ... | Leonard Villanova | |
Rachael Bella | ... | Young Teresa | |
Illeana Douglas | ... | Evelyn Santangelo | |
Joe Grifasi | ... | Frank Manzone | |
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Dale Carman | ... | Father Matthias |
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John Di Benedetto | ... | Augie Santangelo (as John Dibenedetto) |
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Marie DeCicco | ... | Rita (as Marie Decicco) |
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Nancy Marie | ... | Cindy Zagarella |
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Sam Josepher | ... | Lorraine |
Unsettling drama about three generations of Italian-American women struggling to get by in post-World War II New York's Little Italy. Written by John Sacksteder <jsackste@bellsouth.net>
I fell upon this movie while searching for D'Onofrio's work. I quickly realized that this "little known" film is a gem of a movie. D'Onofrio, Ullman, Taylor and Malina all deliver a brilliant performance by making the characters alive and believable. It is the kind of move that draws you into their living room, making you part of the scene. You feel their joy and pain as the stories told.
It doesn't matter if your Greek, Jewish, Irish, or Italian, you begin to see your own families heritage and culture unfold. As a second generation Italian-American Catholic, it brought back a flood of memories of tradition, grandparents, family gatherings, superstition, and the struggle to assimilate in America.
Household Saints didn't get its share of publicity and the actors/actress didn't get the recognition they deserved for their brilliant performances.