Rent A Bronx Tale (1993)

Another Country - A Bronx Tale review by Steve

Contemplative coming of age comedy-drama about a boy growing up in a working class Italian district of New York in the 1960s. Maybe at first there is some friction in hearing yet another American voice telling such a personal account about a community deeply alien to anyone born in some other place...

And especially in how this humanises the street-corner corner mafia enforcer/killer, played by Chazz Palminteri- who also adapted his own successful one man memory play. And yet, this is so well accomplished, with a compelling feel for the location and the period, including a well chosen soundtrack of hits.

And such lively dialogue. The child ages from 9-17 (Francis Capra, Lillo Brancato) torn between two contrasting role models: the charismatic, ultra-pragmatic wise guy who controls the mean streets with fear; and the proletarian family values of his father (Robert De Niro), who drives a bus.

And he advocates for more honest choices. The crisis comes during the race riots that follow the arrival of black Americans*. It's more realistic than Damon Runyon, but the minor characters are similar grotesques. With the extensive voice over narration, it's not all that cinematic; but still thoughtful, and evocative.

*the racist language is realistically offensive.