Stories from the porch, racetrack, deli and family home
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Porch Stories
( out of 4) Starring Laura Barrett, Jose Miguel Contreras. Written and directed by Sarah Goodman. 73 minutes. Opens Friday at TIFF Bell Lightbox. 14A
It’s a great concept — a trilogy of stories about neighbours on a street ( in this case, in Toronto’s Little Portugal) whose lives intersect peripherally over the course of 24 hours.
The story opens with a traditional Easter parade with angel- winged children and community members bearing religious statuary, nicely capturing a sense of languorous mood and place.
Writer/ director Sarah Goodman deserves further praise for using black and white to evoke a sense of nostalgia for simpler times and simpler things, like lounging on the front porch and watching the world go by.
We soon meet Emma ( Laura Barrett) and Stefan ( Alex Tindal), whose moving plans and impending nuptials are thrown into disarray when Gabriel ( Jose Miguel Contreras), a former flame of Emma’s, happens by.
Next door are brother and sister, Zack and Brianna, whose storyline is inexplicably underdeveloped and across the street, there’s longtime married couple, Antonio and Maria, whose porch- sitting is a source of irritation to Emma.
Snatches of conversation are overheard as people of all ages pass by. Where are they going? The better question is: where is the story going? Because by the time something finally happens to the principals in two of the three stories, it feels both unexpected and not particularly rational.
Mangiacake
( out of 4) Starring Melanie Scrofano, Christina Cuffari. Cowritten and directed by Nathan Estabrooks. 79 minutes. Opens Friday at Carlton Cinemas. STC
Sibling rivalry Italian- Canadian style might have been a better title for this purported light family comedy.
But although Mangiacake has its charms, the problem is actually that it’s a little too light, as in lacking in comedy.
The story involves two warring twenty- something sisters living at home who are driving Mom and Nonna ( Grandma to the rest of us) nearly crazy. Tessa is studying Chinese medicine, Marie is an aspiring actress. Both should have been kicked out years ago.
The mangiacake — or “caker” — of the title is Brandon, a blue- eyed Canadian guy who’s been sexting with Marie. He’s mischievously invited to visit the family home when Tessa purloins Marie’s phone.
Melanie Scrofano as Tessa and Christina Cuffari as Marie are actually quite good as the quarrelsome siblings and Harmon Walsh displays a certain wide- eyed appeal as Brandon.
Jocelyne Zucco, with her collection of wigs, plays Nonna with ease although Paula MacPherson underplays the pivotal role of Mom.
The story, laden with tired Italian- Canadian stereotypes, has the occasional good chuckle, especially Tessa’s declaration that “I’m not yelling, I’m Italian.”
But the film never quite matches the bubbly energy of the music of Domo Emigrantes. It is rather like mangiacake, a little too bland to be truly enjoyable.
Winning: The Racing Life of Paul Newman
( out of 4) Co- written and directed by Adam Carolla. 83 minutes. Opening Friday at Cineplex Cinemas Yonge Dundas. STC
You know him as an Oscar- winning actor and a philanthropist whose food company — starting with salad dressing — has generated tens of million for various charities since its creation in 1982.
What might not know about Paul Newman is that he had a serious need for speed, the kind you get from driving racing cars.
The documentary by filmmaker Adam Carolla is full of stock footage and interviews from Hollywood stars such as Robert Redford and racing legends like Mario Andretti, so full you’ll be constantly exclaiming, “Wow, I didn’t know that.”
Carolla cheekily adopts the title of the 1969 film, Winning, which first stirred Newman’s interest in racing. As co- star Robert Wagner notes, Newman had “the look of eagles in his eyes” when he got behind the wheel of a fast car.
We learn that Newman never even owned a car until sometime in his 20s. And even though he didn’t start racing until he was 49, Newman won several national championships and placed second at the gruelling 24- hour race at Le Mans.
The portrait that emerges of Newman is of a decent, cool and low- key guy who preferred racing over acting. In his own words, “the only grace I ever found was in an automobile.”
Deli Man
K ( out of 4) Directed by Erik Greenberg Anjou. 91 minutes. Opens Friday at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema. STC Like a good smoked meat on rye? Have I got the movie for you!
And don’t be surprised if you’re hankering for kreplach, chicken soup or a smoked meat sandwich with a kosher dill on the side.
The documentary by director Erik Greenberg Anjou is an unabashed homage and a swan song of sorts because, as author David Sax points out, the old- fashioned Jewish deli — which once numbered among the thousands across North America — is fast disappearing.
In addition to some fascinating historical context, there are some great storytellers throughout, chief among them David “Ziggy” Gruber, owner of the Kenny and Ziggy’s Deli chain, a third generation deli man who talks movingly of working alongside his grandfather, learning Yiddish and serving delicious food to generations.
“When I cook, I feel my ancestors around me,” Gruber says.
You’ll also hear from deli owners across the continent, including Zane Caplansky of Toronto, who talks about the role of the local deli as a “community builder.”
Also checking in are fans of deli such as comic/ actor Jerry Stiller, who proclaims: “A delicatessen was more than just food, it was something that was for the soul and the heart.”
Heartfelt and heartwarming, Deli Manis documentary filmmaking at its tastiest.