 |
| No, my son's not allowed in your Coke commercial |
One of the most difficult and fascinating journeys
that we face is that which takes us from childhood to adulthood. For some, this
time is marked by awkward exchanges with peers, angst-fueled outbursts, and the
start of the desire to understand who we are. In the coming of age classic, A Bronx
Tale, adolescence is a time in which
Calogero Anello is was forced to confront the things he was always told he
would understand ‘when you get older’. Through the guidance of his two very
different father figures, he learns about love, family, and the sadness that is
wasted talent.
The film begins as an adult Calogero reflects upon
his childhood in the Bronx’s Little Italy. He describes his parents, neighbors,
and most notably, the local organized crime syndicate. To nine year old Calogero
(Francis Capra) and his friends, neighborhood boss Sonny (Chazz Palminteri) and
his mob are living legends who provide a glimpse of life beyond the city’s
tenements. Calogero’s father, Lorenzo (Robert De Niro), is a hard working bus
driver doing the best that he can to support his family while following the neighborhood protocol of minding his own
business. Lorenzo tries to teach his son the importance of living with
integrity, but all the boy sees is the “clothes, cars, and money” that organized
crime offers. One day, Calogero witnesses Sonny intervene in a street fight and
shoot a man to death. When the cops arrive at his apartment looking for information,
he follows the code of his neighborhood and refuses to rat, a decision that he
father calls doing “a good thing for a bad man”. Sonny shows his gratitude by
taking Calogero under his wing, and treating him like a surrogate son. Although
he means well, Sonny’s attention only exacerbates the tension between Calogero
and Lorenzo, and fosters in Calogero an even greater adoration for the criminal
lifestyle.
The story then flashes ahead eight years as a now
seventeen year old Calogero (Lillo Brancato) copes with the Bronx’s version of
the adolescent experience. He continues to spend time with Sonny despite
Lorenzo’s disapproval, and views Sonny as a mentor and father figure. He also
falls under the influence of his increasingly reckless childhood friends, Slick
(Joe D’Onofrio) and Mario (Louis Vanaria). Eventually, he begins a romance with
African-American schoolmate, Jane (Tara Hicks), despite the dangers of interracial
relationships in the 1960’s. His relationship with Jane is further complicated
by the racist actions of Slick and Mario, who viciously beat a group of black
students riding bikes through the neighborhood, which happens to include Jane’s
older brother. Sonny sees the negative effect that Slick and Mario have on
Calogero and tries to convince him to stay in school and pursue a better life,
much like the one Lorenzo always planned for him. Tensions finally boil over
when Calogero is forced to choose whose example he will follow and what kind of life he
wants to lead. |
| I never get nagged like this by the gangsters |
One of the most notable aspects of A Bronx Tale is the fact that it is
based upon a true story. The film originated as a one man play written by Palimteri
and is based upon his childhood experiences growing up in the Bronx in the 1960’s.
The play premiered in 1990 and became an off-Broadway hit. Robert De Niro
attended a performance of the play, and was so impressed that he offered to buy
the rights to the script.
Palimteri only agreed to sell the rights under the conditions that he would
write the screenplay and play the role of Sonny. De Niro accepted Palminteri’s conditions,
and became so focused upon maintaining the script's integrity that he even went so far as to hire one of the actual members of Sonny's mob to play himself in the film. This critically and commercially successful collaboration launched both Palminterri's film career and De Niro’s directing career.
The story’s foundation in reality provides the film with a sense of historical and geographical accuracy that many gangster films lack. For instance, while Sonny and his crew are clearly part of the mafia, they’re influence is restricted to the neighborhood over which they preside. Similarly, although Calogero’s parents are portrayed as morally upright, his mother is still tempted when Sonny offers Lorenzo a job with his crew. The film also expertly captures the racial tensions rising in the city and across America during this time period. One scene in which Calogero uses a racial slur against Jane’s brother in a moment of frustration and another in which he finds himself on the receiving end of racial hatred in her neighborhood are particularly striking in their emotional honesty. By firmly maintaining its sense of time and place, A Bronx Tale is able to rise above the clichés that many gangster films rely upon and tell a story that is both poignant and raw.
The story’s foundation in reality provides the film with a sense of historical and geographical accuracy that many gangster films lack. For instance, while Sonny and his crew are clearly part of the mafia, they’re influence is restricted to the neighborhood over which they preside. Similarly, although Calogero’s parents are portrayed as morally upright, his mother is still tempted when Sonny offers Lorenzo a job with his crew. The film also expertly captures the racial tensions rising in the city and across America during this time period. One scene in which Calogero uses a racial slur against Jane’s brother in a moment of frustration and another in which he finds himself on the receiving end of racial hatred in her neighborhood are particularly striking in their emotional honesty. By firmly maintaining its sense of time and place, A Bronx Tale is able to rise above the clichés that many gangster films rely upon and tell a story that is both poignant and raw.
The film perfectly encompasses the universal
conflicts and confusion of adolescence, despite the fact that it is a period
piece. While Calogero’s experiences with Sonny’s gangsters are difficult for
audiences to completely relate to, his interactions with his friends and family
are familiar to people of all walks of life. His efforts to resist peer
pressure while trying to remain ‘cool’ in the eyes of his friends are reminiscent
of the conflict between image and integrity that teenagers continue to face today.
Similarly, his awkward first meeting with Jane portrays the nervous thrill of a new
relationship that viewers know all too well. Calogero’s relationships with
Lorenzo and Sonny convincingly combine the misunderstandings, conflicts, and life
lessons that make up father-son relationships in ways that give equal weight to
his interactions with both men. Thus, through its superb script and exemplary
cast, A Bronx Tale tells the story of
one young man’s coming of age, while serving as a reminder of all the growing
up we, the viewers, have done and will continue to do throughout our lives.
A
Bronx Tale is a film that continues to entertain
with its unique take on timeless themes. By combining the gangster and coming
of age genres, the film reveals the challenges of growing up and explores what
it really means to be a man. Since its release, the film has gained a cult
following with many of the lines (especially Sonny’s door test speech)
regularly quoted. This film is commendable for the way that it manages to both
entertain and educate without ever resorting to clichés or lecturing. I
recommend this film for those coping with growing up and those who remember the
highs and lows of doing so. And as an added bonus, here's one of Sonny's life lessons, on the house:
 |
| You dump her and you dump her fast |
IF YOU ENJOYED THIS TALE OF COMING OF AGE IN A DANGEROUS WORLD DON'T MISS MY COMING OF AGE/WAR DRAMA A FIGHTING CHANCE http://offthewallplays.com/2015/02/19/a-fighting-chance-screenplay-about-spanish-civil-war/
No comments:
Post a Comment