Details
Movie Description
Pearl Berman, a Jewish matriarch in Queens, unexpectedly discovers love and happiness on the day of her husband's funeral when a romantic Italian asks her on a date. Their perfect mismatch transforms not only Pearl, but her entire dysfunctional family.
Synopsis
Ethnic humor abounds in this comedy-drama set in Queens, circa 1969. The story concerns the difficult romance between the acerbic matriarch of a large, dysfunctional Jewish family and the sweet-natured Italian gentleman who woos her.
Reunited with Pearl Berman, the woman he has loved afar for 23 years, Joe Meledandri immediately begins campaigning for her heart -- no matter that their reunion occurs at the funeral of Pearl's husband. Oozing old-world European charm, Joe bursts like a ray of much-needed sunshine into the neurotic, unhappy Berman household as he attempts to break through the embittered housewife's crusty exterior.
Film Notes
Filmed in DeLuxe color in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn and Queens, New York and in Toronto, Canada.
Began shooting September 9, 1991; completed shooting mid-November.
Additional music credits: "Tell It Like It Is" written by George Davis and Lee Diamond; "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" also written by Norman Whitfield; "Grandma Boogie" written by Bill Kowalchuk; "Since I Fell for You" written by Buddy Johnson; "Can't Seem to Make You Mine" written by Sky Saxon; "Moon Over Miami" written by Joe Burke and Edgar Leslie; "The Sky Fell Down" also written by Louis Alter. Soundtrack album available on Big Screen Records.
This the American feature debut for British director Beeban Kidron ("Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit," "Antonia and Jane").
The script for this film was developed from "The Grandma Plays," which premiered at the Vineyard Theatre in New York City. Writer Todd Graff based the play on events from his own grandmother's life.
Industry Reviews
"...[Harden] is wonderfully funny and touching..."
Rolling Stone - Peter Travers (01/21/1993)
Quotations
"She got picked up at her own husband's funeral." -- Frieda (Jessica Tandy)
"I saw a woman haunted by the ghost of her own grace, and I fell hopelessly, and pointlessly, in love." -- Joe Meledandri (Marcello Mastroianni)
"Don't wait until you're 80 to learn how precious life is." -- Frieda (Jessica Tandy)
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