Italian-american Films

KimmyMarkks

KimmyMarkks

Community Member
Nov 16, 2015
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Do you think many of the old classic films like the Godfather and A Bronx tale present an accurate picture of Italian-Americans?
I think more so many years ago then now a days. Especially in many cities with large Italian-American populations.
 
I think your right and a few decades ago I think they probably were a true reflection on how Italians settled in to the American way of life.

These days I'm not so sure that they are that accurate but I'm guessing there will be some old fashioned Italians that will have brought their children up the same way as they were.
 
Honestly, no. The big majority of movies that portray Italian-Americans are usually based on the Mafia, Cosa Nostra etc. They portray them as criminals, all belonging to organized crime families, but that's a big misconception. Don't get me wrong, I love movies like The Godfather, Donnie Brasco, Goodfellas etc. but they don't represent Italian-Americans as a community. They have been facing these types of stereotypes for a long time, and the NIAF (National Italian American Foundation) has been fighting to clear that image, to show the rich and vast culture of Italian-Americans. Of course Italian organized crime is notorious and very real, but it represents a very minuscule % of the Italian-American population.
 
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alesh said:
Honestly, no. The big majority of movies that portray Italian-Americans are usually based on the Mafia, Cosa Nostra etc. They portray them as criminals, all belonging to organized crime families, but that's a big misconception. Don't get me wrong, I love movies like The Godfather, Donnie Brasco, Goodfellas etc. but they don't represent Italian-Americans as a community. They have been facing these types of stereotypes for a long time, and the NIAF (National Italian American Foundation) has been fighting to clear that image, to show the rich and vast culture of Italian-Americans. Of course Italian organized crime is notorious and very real, but it represents a very minuscule % of the Italian-American population.
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This was very much the way I thought too - I think that a lot of those old films make every Italian out to be a mafia member/gangster type image. And like you said, it is a real thing and does exist - but the proportion of Italian Americans that would actually be involved in something like that would be incredibly small.
 
notyourcommodity said:
This was very much the way I thought too - I think that a lot of those old films make every Italian out to be a mafia member/gangster type image. And like you said, it is a real thing and does exist - but the proportion of Italian Americans that would actually be involved in something like that would be incredibly small.
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I agree. I think in some areas it may be a little accurate but in most it isn't true at all. I know a few people who grew up in the boroughs of NYC and agreed it showed what life was like years ago. However, a lot has changed in the recent times.
 
As others said before me the stereotype and the characteristics in these movies are most likely from the earlier times, But there a few ways these things are staying within the generations through decades and decades.

Just watch and episode of the Cake Boss, and any stereotypical italian family reality show, even if its exaggerated and a little bit over played for the sake of the cameras there are still a lot of accurateness there.
 
I've also seen The Godfather, GoodFellas, Casino and Donnie Brasco and I thought they are an amazing Italian-American film. Yes they are about gangs and mafias but I'm not sure about their accuracy of Italians being the mob bosses and heads of the gangs. I've only learned this because of such films.
 
Now that you mention Italian movies (or Italian-American), I realize that Italy has an eye for the arts. Italians are great in music, and movies are not behind. I recall for example the Godfather trilogy, impressive series that marked me as a kid, I still love to watch them these days. Even if they are mafia based, they are excellent stories.
 
I really would not classify those typical movies as Italian American in that sense. I mean I get it, but at the same time I know that there are some real films out there that really do the industry more justice than those do.
 
There are great Italian movies regardless the American association of not. I do recall the movie "Life is Beautiful", an amazing story about the war when a dad does everything so that his kid doesn't realize he is in a concentration camp. A movie to cry, but a touching story.

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