Two Family House (2000)

Raymond De Felitta's Sundance 2000 Audience Winner is a sweet little romantic drama set in the insular Italian and Irish neighborhoods of 1956 Staten Island. Narrated with the conversational ease of a bar story, it stars Michael Rispoli as Buddy, blue-collar Italian American with big dreams, a golden voice, and a history of failed business schemes. His latest scheme involves turning a two-story firetrap into a bar with an upstairs apartment, but first he has to evict the squatters he inherited with the house: an abandoned young Irish mother (Kelly Macdonald) and her half-black child. Guilty over his hardhearted decision, he sets them up in an apartment and essentially adopts them. An unlikely friendship begins in clashes and verbal fireworks and turns into a gentle romance while Buddy confronts his own prejudice and smothering cultural values.

De Felitta is uncharacteristically generous to both his clannish working-class chorus and Buddy's wife Estelle (Kathrine Narducci, from The Sopranos), who undermines her spouse's efforts and ridicules his ambition out of sheer conformism. Rispoli, by contrast, is accepting and warm as a guy hungry for his piece of the American dream, and Macdonald's scrappy single mom is full of Irish dander that melts into a romantic sparkle and loving support. Two Family House is inspired by the true story of writer-director De Felitta's uncle, and there's an engaging modesty and loving understanding in this portrait of one man's rebellion against the stifling values and judgmental intolerance of his community. --Sean Axmaker Amazon.com

Somebody's Gotta Do It!!

Somebody has to give this liberal loser of a movie one star [they don't have half stars!]--so it might as well be me!! Why did she make such a bad choice--cheating on her husband with a black--then wonder why she has problems? Can't she just admit she caused her own problems by her actions? Grow up lady! The guy is a nice guy but he deserves better than both of these women. His wife's a shrew and the other sleeps around, so how can he fall in Love with such a person!! NOT MUCH to redeem this flick--I can't see all the sentimental reviews about it but if you want to waste your time... May 23, 2008

A Walk Down Memory Lane

I loved this movie. As an Italian American growing up in the 50's and 60's it was a walk down memory lane. May 12, 2007

A heartwarming film

This film takes place on Staten island in the late 1950s. It examines the story of an Italian family, Buddy and Estelle, and the way their lives affect an Irish woman whose husband has left her due to her having a black son. It is a funny film, heartwarming and cute, slightly slow moving, with wonderful vignettes of the 1950s and the ethnic mish-mash of New York in that period.

Buddy is a down on his luck workman who has always dreamed big. But his businesses have failed: pizza backing, limosine service and finally he has decided to make his house into a bar. It turns out the house is inhabited by an Irish couple, of whome the husband is an abusive drunkard and the wife turns out to have been pregnant with someone elses baby. The movie is narrated by the now grown up baby, and follows the interactions, hardships and joys of these people and their community.

Wonderful stuff,
Seth J. Frantzman May 8, 2007

A movie about acceptance and Love

This was really a beautiful movie about a working class guy (Buddy) from a close knit Italian neighborhood. He gives up an opportunity to become a singer (his dream) to marry a shrewish woman who has no faith in him or his dreams. Fate causes Buddy to cross paths with a young Irish woman who gives birth to a bi racial baby while married to an older irish drunk. keep in mind, this was the 1950s and in Staten Island As time goes on, Buddy falls in love with this fiery, but loyal young woman (Mary) and eventually marries her and takes on the rearing (and loving) of her baby.The affection that the baby had for Buddy shows clearly that was not only was Buddy kind, but strong. In the end you see that Buddy's friends abd family had abandoned him because of his love for Mary and her son. July 4, 2006

Little known GEM!

This is one of those rare movies that stays with you long after you've seen it. I watched this on cable and the next day had to buy the DVD. Excellent potrayals all around with story that tugs at your heartstrings. Well written and very well acted. And it really goes to show you, forget what people think about your dreams! Live your life! If you want a really good movie then this will not disappoint! September 18, 2005

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