Two Family House (2000)

Director:

Raymond De Felitta

Writer (WGA):

Raymond De Felitta (written by)

Release Date:

9 August 2002 (Spain)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

The only way to find out what you love is to risk everything you have.

Plot:

A dreamer finds that his wife and friends are binding him to his mediocre existence.

Plot Keywords:

Baby | Racial Prejudice | Guilt | Tenant | Bar

Awards:

3 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Michael Rispoli	...	Buddy Visalo
Kelly Macdonald	...	Mary O'Neary
Kathrine Narducci	...	Estelle Visalo
Kevin Conway	...	Jim O'Neary
Matt Servitto	...	Chipmunk
Michele Santopietro	...	Laura
Louis Guss	...	Donato
Rosemary De Angelis	...	Marie (as Rosemary Deangelis)
Anthony Arkin	...	Danny
Saul Stein	...	Anthony
Vincent Pastore	...	Angelo
Sharon Angela	...	Gloria
Ivy Jones	...	Tina
Victor Arnold	...	Mr. Cicco
Richard B. Shull	...	Mr. Brancaccio

MPAA:

Rated R for language and brief sexuality.

Runtime:

108 min | Spain:109 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #37166) | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | Spain:7

Company:

Filbert Steps Productions

Goofs:

Anachronisms: During one shot, the Bayonne Bridge is shown with the Goethals Bridge beyond it, on the right. Adjacent to it, the B&O Arthur Kill Vertical Lift Bridge is shown. This wasn't built until 1959, replacing an older swing bridge.

Movie Connections:

References "Arthur Godfrey and His Friends" (1949)

Soundtrack:

Wouldn't Trade You

The Challenge of Rising Above Ethnic Stereotypes

This is a wonderful film, that deals with the challenges of ethnic stereotypes and the cultural biases that go with them. Stereotypes are a definite by-product of culture, yet for the most part, usually the worst expressions of a particular culture. In adhering to our birth culture we invariably absorb certain stereotypes, and biases, without even realizing it. People therefore become stereotypical to a greater or lesser degree, depending upon their independence of thought, and self-awareness. The less independent minded, or self aware we are, the more stereotypical we may become.

Two Family House is a very well-crafted drama, involving interactions between, an Italian couple, an Irish couple, and an anonymous African American man. The chain of events triggered by their interaction, gives birth to a beautiful love story involving the Italian husband of one couple, and the Irish wife and her child, of the other. Challenged by events that pushes them to the limits of their respective cultural sensibilities, the film portrays how these individuals for various reasons, either succumb to, or transcend, the biases, they were born into. The beauty of the movie is that it shows that through tremendous effort and resolve, it's quite possible to break free of cultural stereotypes, and the irrational hate, that invariably goes with them.