From the Vine

Canada/Italy 2020. dir. Sean Cisterna. 89 mins.

Available July 10 on demand or digital

Distributor: Taro PR

Reviewer Ed Farolan

This is an interesting film for those men going into the mid-life crisis. It´s also a feel-good film. A downtrodden man, veteran actor Joe Pantoliano, experiences an ethical crisis and travels back to his hometown, Acerenza, in rural Italy. There he finds new purpose in reviving his grandfather's old vineyard, offering the small town of Acerenza a sustainable future.

His wife (Wendy Crewson) and daughter (Paula Brancati) follow him later to take him back to Toronto, but when they get to Acerenza, they are overwhelmed by the magic of this small town. Love and other factors, like Pantoliano learning how to talk to the grape vines and to his dead "nono" bring in a somewhat "realismo mágico" similar to Gabriel García Márquez´s novels.

Based on the acclaimed novel Finding Marco by Kenneth Canio Cancellera, this film has participated in over 20 film festivals winning Best Picture a number of times.

© 2020 Ed Farolan