Uncle Nino

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Uncle Nino
Directed by	Robert Shallcross
Produced by	David James
Written by	Robert Shallcross
Starring	Joe Mantegna Pierrino Mascarino Anne Archer
Music by	Larry Pecorella
Cinematography	Hugo Cortina
Editing by	Dan Schalk
Distributed by	Lange Film Releasing
Release date(s)	October 21, 2003
Running time	104 min.
Country	USA
Language	English
Official website
Allmovie profile
IMDb profile

Uncle Nino is a 2003 movie which deals with that unknown cinematic commodity: a family, who have lost their way, but are trying to do good in spite of difficulty. The movie has the Dove Foundation Seal indicating the Dove Foundation considers it fit for all ages.

[edit] Plot

An old man from Italy erupts into the midst of a distressed Italian-American Family. The father, Robert Micelli (Joe Mantegna), has become a stranger and thinks only of his lawn and job. After decades of no contact, Robert's uncle Nino flies to America for an unexpected visit, with a suitcase full of home-made Italian wine and a distressing insistence that they recommence loving each other -- the children vilify each other, don't eat meals together and live with one another very reluctantly. Uncle Nino disrupts all of that, insists that they eat meals together, joins the son's rock and roll band with his Italian Violin and introduces scores of alien ideas from Italy. God is mentioned reverentially, and Uncle Nino himself attempts to expiate a haunting guilt. This movie has been credited with changing the lives of many people in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and ran there for over a year.

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It has become much more than just a movie, it has taken its place as a local Grand Rapids institution and shows no signs of ceasing. A group of local people, called Nino's Nephews and Nieces has formed, they appear after many performances, taking emails and building an ever larger email-tree. The actor playing Uncle Nino, Pierrino Mascarino has been in Grand Rapids many times and for weeks at a time. He has given testimony in their churches and lectured in their schools, he has spoken in their colleges and film schools. He has visited their Senior Citizen Centers and hospitals. The movie is often mentioned on local radio and television and is the constant subject of newspaper articles and letters to the editor.