Mambo Italiano is likely the funniest, sweetest gay comedy l’il ol’ Tallulah hayuz evah watched. Mambo Italiano is the bittersweet story of one young man’s coming out and another young man’s failure to love himself as he is and returns to the closet.

Maria and Gino (the absolutely fabulous Ginette Reno in her final film and the astounding Paul Sorvino), emigrated from Italy to Montreal in the 50’s and married after their arrival in “the new world”, a world they still haven’t quite gotten used to. Their world is shattered when their son, Angelo (the oh-so-sweet Luke Kirby), decides to get a place of his own. “What is so wrong with living with your parents until you get married?” they ask. They are relieved however, when Angelo’s childhood buddy, Nino (hot-hot-HOT Peter Miller), decides to move in with their son. After all, Nino is an old family friend and he’s a respectable cop. Their relief is short lived, as they find out that Nino and Angelo are much more than mere roommates - they’re lovers! All hell breaks loose (Italian-style, of course!) Horror is followed by a general outcry, disbelief is followed by indignation, the battlefield is cleared, and “tutta la famiglia” goes to war!

Will Angelo and Nino be able to resist the gargantuan pressure coming at them from all sides and find the strength to survive as a couple? Will Nino be able to withstand the seductive charms of the voluptuous Pina (Sophia Lorain)? Will Angelo find the courage to fully come out of the closet and confront the whole of them while he accepts himself?

Mambo Italiano is hysterically funny and deeply moving. Adapted from the successful play by the same name, the movie explores further the subtleties and complexities of this quintessential Italian familia family straddling the cultures, traditions, and mores of the old and new worlds.

2003, 88 min

Country: Canada

Studio: Samuel Goldwyn Films

Cast: Luke Kirby, Ginette Reno, Paul Sorvino, Claudia Ferri, Peter Miller, Tara Nicodemo, Mary Walsh, Pierrette Robitaille

Director: Émile Gaudreault

Screenwriter: Émile Gaudreault, Steve Galluccio