Italians don’t seem to have a problem with mafia comedies, but Americans seem hesitant to laugh. Is it OK to find the mafia funny?
Yesterday, the movie written by, directed by and starring Edoardo Leo, with a cast including Luca Argentero, Claudio Amendola, Claudio Buccirosso, Stefano Fresi and Anna Foglietta, Noi e la Giulia opened in Italian theaters.
Leo’s comedy based is on the book Alfa Romeo 1300 and Other Miracles by Fabio Bartolomei and is the story of three guys who start a B&B near Naples.The Giulia 1300 Alfa Romeo is the car owned by the mafioso who is demanding protection money for their new business venture. Looks like this one’s going to be a big hit, and it’s not a drama. It’s a comedy.
Noi e La Giulia join comedies like Pierfrancesco Diliberto’s La Mafia Uccide Solo D’Estate, about the citizens of Palermo hiding their heads in the sand during the mafia violence the 80s, and Benvenuti al Sud, about how the north of Italy perceives the people of the south and believe that everybody there is mafioso, other mafia comedies with big box office draws. In Un Boss in Salotto, Paola Cortellesi’s brother, played by Rocco Papaleo, embarrasses his sister by pretending to be a bigger badass mafioso than he really is.
Italians seem to be laughing at the mafia, but Italian Americans seem to have a hard time doing that. Italian Americans that I talk to have a hard time even using the word “mafia”, as if it’s some like of racial slur, and are hesitant to give movies with mafia themes a chance.
So I’m not Italian, and I’m not even Italian American, but just an Italian wannabe and interloper, so you have to tell me: What am I not getting?
Italians – can we laugh at the mafia or can’t we?
Italian Americans – same question.
Can we have a conversation about this? Educate me. Go.
And for you Italian Americans that have not yet watched the PBS special The Italian Americans, please, please, please, TI PREGO, don’t miss it. It’s a beautiful tribute to your relatives, your communities, and your people.
I Love Italian Everything 