The Italians

Starring:Italians
Studio: Allumination
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Going beyond being a mere travelogue, this ambitious documentary from the Discovery Channel seeks to portray the character of the Italian people. The focus is on representative Italians, including the artistic engineers who craft the Ferrari sports cars, a fashion designer, and fishermen in a small seaside village. The locations vary greatly, with the camera visiting the trendy cities of Rome and Milan, the gorgeous Mediterranean scenery of Sicily, and the astounding and stark beauty of the soaring Italian Alps. Narrated by actress Linda Hunt, this is an atmospheric view of Italians, and it probably wouldn't be very practical for those seeking an instructional travel tape. However, the locations visited in this video are, for the most part, beautiful, and the photography is often stunning--and just the spectacular camera work would make this documentary a treat for the eyes, if nothing else. But the interviews with Italians seek to provide a sampling of the national character, with the emphasis on exuberant and artistic living, national pride, and timeless family traditions. As one interview subject puts it, Italians always strike "a rare blend of art and life." This production serves up a sumptuous sampling of Italian life. --Robert J. McNamara

Italians in America - Our Contribution
Average customer rating:

A moving tribute to the descendants of Italy

Italians in America - Our Contribution
Starring: Italians in America
Manufacturer: White Star
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Anti-Italianism: Discrimination and Defamation in the History of Italian Americans

ASIN: B0002S643C
Release Date: 2004-09-28

Description

The Italians in America is a captivating and enthralling look at the contributions that Italians have made to American culture and society. This film honors the monumental and historic accomplishments of Italians in America. The history and stories of Italians in America are brought to life through interviews with diverse celebrities such as Pat Cooper, Robert Loggia, Geraldine Ferraro, Jack Scalia, Tommy Lasorda , Joe Paterno and Gay Talese.

Customer Reviews:

A moving tribute to the descendants of Italy.......2005-01-09

"Italians in America - Our Contribution" is a documentary tribute to the descedents of Italy who made their homes in the United States. It contains many interviews with high profile Americans of Italian descent, from Robert Loggia to Geraldine Ferraro to Pat Cooper (whom I had not known was Italian) interspersed with photographs and stock footage of important Italian-Americans from the last hundred years, from Marconi, to Frank Sinatra, to Joe DiMaggio to Madonna. (I was very thankful that Madonna, the singer, was included in the lineup. During my adolescence and teens Madonna was the epitome of Italian to me. Interestingly, Gay Talese suggests that Madonna's occasionally "sacrilegious" performances may have ancestral roots. Apparently, Madonna is descended from a region of Italy known for rebellion against the Catholic Church.) At first, this lineup of Italian-Americans seemed, well, a bit boring. I mean, yeah, so-n-so is of Italian descent - what's that mean to me? But after a while, it starts to kick in: Italians have contributed much more to this society than just pizza and the mafia. In fact, this very country and entire continent is named after an Italian: Amerigo Vespucci. After a while, the parade of Italian, faces, and brief biographies, becomes very moving.

"Italians in America - Our Contribution" ends with the touching reminiscence of an American man's early life with his Italian grandparents. The narrator (sorry, I can't remember his name) details how his early childhood was very Italian due to the influence of his Italian-born grandparents. All the old Italian traditions were there, the cooking, the distinctly Italian way of celebrating the holidays, the Italian way of praying, the overall awareness of themselves as Italians, as different from others in their neighborhood. With the passing of his grandparents, with the passing of several decades, the distinctly Italian way of living has vanished. The narrator notes that while his grandparents were Italian and he is an Italian-American, his grandchildren are now simply American, and his own way of life is now virtually indistinguishable from any other mainstream American. "And yet," notes the narrator, "there is something about me that still feels Italian."

By this point in the documentary I was literally on the verge of tears (have had to hold them back several times just writing this review), because I can relate. And it's very odd that I can relate because I grew up very far outside of any Italian tradition, have never been to Italy, and the only Italian I speak is what I learned from the concert video "Ciao Italia: Madonna Live In Italy" - and yet there's something about me that feels very Italian.

In fact, I have always felt more Italian than anything else, and I had always felt odd about that precisely because I have had such little direct experience with my Italian heritage. "Italians in America - Our Contribution" made me realize that there is nothing odd about the fact that I feel more Italian than anything else - because I AM more Italian than anything else. Half-Italian, to be exact.

Andrew Michael Parodi

Italians in America: The Journey Home (History Channel) (A&E DVD Archives)

Average customer rating:

Italians in America
Understand the Drive to become Italian-American
Bravo to Italians in America
Film counters traditional Itlo-American stereotypes

Italians in America: The Journey Home (History Channel) (A&E DVD Archives)
Starring: Joseph Campanella
Manufacturer: A & E Home Video
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Italians in America - Our Contribution
The Italian Americans
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Ellis Island
Anti-Italianism: Discrimination and Defamation in the History of Italian Americans

ASIN: B0002V7NPC
Release Date: 2004-08-10

Amazon.com

In a broad overview, Italians in America highlights the tragically ironic 100-year struggle for assimilation of the immigrants whose forefathers not only discovered this country, but gave it its name. In this 100-minute documentary, the history of the Italian-American story begins with the migration from southern Italy after unification. The masses of these non-English-speaking immigrants survived and ultimately overcame language barriers, negative stereotypes, and prejudice that first put them at the bottom of the urban pecking order. What is most revealing about this documentary is not necessarily the superficial story of Italian immigrants, in which the basic plot of homeland desertion, poverty, discrimination, and triumph are common elements in other immigrant communities. What it adeptly points out, though, is that the Italians were often the community to do things first, best, and biggest, thus integrating Italian culture inextricably into American culture. It divides Italian-American history into several sociological events including the largest mass exodus into the United States in history, the first successful labor unions, the rise of the largest organized crime families (which is refreshingly downplayed), the importance of the tight Italian family, the rise of Italian movie stars, singers, and athletes, and of course the food. Although too brief to go in depth about any of these phenomena, the film does a lovely job of emphasizing the undeniably profound influence Italian Americans have had in defining American culture. --Elizabeth Massa

Customer Reviews:

Italians in America.......2006-08-01

I found this to be an excellent film. It contained all the information about the arrival and life of the Italian people once they were here - both good times and bad. All well done. I definately recomend it to anyone interested in an accurate and entertaining bit of history.

Understand the Drive to become Italian-American.......2000-11-28

This video helped me to understand my Italian heritage, and how my ancestors were driven to come to this country to make a better life for themselves. It explains when and why the Italians began to immigrate to this great country, and the difficulties they endured while trying to become integrated in this new world. Overcoming the language barrier, and the prejudices by other ethnic groups that immigrated around the same time, were some of the obstacles they faced. Italian traditions, and the Italian family life style and structure were threatened by the intense need to assimilate, which was necessary for survival. Assimilation, however, was a terribly slow process because of the language barrier. If you're interested in how and why you became an Italian-American, you should see this video. It'll make you very proud of your ancestors, your culture,and your heritage. It'll give you a better perspective on what it means to be Italian-American, and make you feel proud to be one.

Bravo to Italians in America.......1999-09-05

Although I am an Irishman, I loved the fact how the video informed me on how Irish and Italians are the most integrated nationality in America. Their common bond with the Catholic Religion, toughness as a people, and their willingness to fight for their rights.

Film counters traditional Itlo-American stereotypes.......1999-05-14

Italians in America shows the real struggle that Itlo-Americans faced in this country from the first immigrants to today. While the documentary promotes our great culture, our heroes in sports, film and the arts it gave a pass to Hollywoods depiction (generally unfavorable) of Itlo-Americans. It also failed to show the real bias that exists against Italian Americans in some major cities with regards to politics. I also would have hoped that Chicago, which has the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame and Taylor Street - which is heart of Italian Chicago - could have been profiled. This being said, the film was well done, well written and well researched.

Average customer rating:

A moving tribute to the descendants of Italy

Italians in America/Our Contribution
Starring: Pbs
Manufacturer: Red Ball Group
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: B00009MEEC
Release Date: 2003-05-27

Customer Reviews:

A moving tribute to the descendants of Italy.......2005-01-10

"Italians in America - Our Contribution" is a documentary tribute to the descendants of Italy who made their homes in the United States. It contains many interviews with high profile Americans of Italian descent, from Robert Loggia to Geraldine Ferraro to Pat Cooper (whom I had not known was Italian) interspersed with photographs and stock footage of important Italian-Americans from the last hundred years, from Marconi, to Frank Sinatra, to Joe DiMaggio, to Madonna. (I was very thankful that Madonna, the singer, was included in the lineup. During my adolescence and teens Madonna was the epitome of Italian to me. Interestingly, Gay Talese suggests that Madonna's occasionally "sacrilegious" performances may have ancestral roots. Apparently, Madonna is descended from a region of Italy known for rebellion against the Catholic Church.) At first, this lineup of Italian-Americans seemed, well, a bit boring. I mean, yeah, so-n-so is of Italian descent - what's that mean to me? But after a while, it starts to sink in: Italians have contributed much more to this society than just pizza and the mafia. In fact, this very country and entire continent is named after an Italian: Amerigo Vespucci. After a while, the parade of Italian, faces, and brief biographies, becomes very moving.

"Italians in America - Our Contribution" ends with the touching reminiscence of an American man's early life with his Italian grandparents. The narrator (sorry, I can't remember his name) details how his early childhood was very Italian due to the influence of his Italian-born grandparents. All the old Italian traditions were there, the cooking, the distinctly Italian way of celebrating the holidays, the Italian way of praying, the overall awareness of themselves as Italians, as different from others in their neighborhood. With the passing of his grandparents, with the passing of several decades, the distinctly Italian way of living has vanished. The narrator notes that while his grandparents were Italian and he is an Italian-American, his grandchildren are now simply American, and his own way of life is now virtually indistinguishable from any other mainstream American. "And yet," he notes, "there is something about me that still feels Italian."

By this point in the documentary I was literally on the verge of tears (have had to hold them back several times just writing this review), because I can relate. And it's very odd that I can relate because I grew up very far outside of any Italian tradition, have never been to Italy, and the only Italian I speak is what I learned from the concert video "Ciao Italia: Madonna Live In Italy" - and yet there's something about me that feels very Italian.

In fact, I have always felt more Italian than anything else, and I had always felt odd about that precisely because I have had such little direct experience with my Italian heritage. "Italians in America - Our Contribution" made me realize that there is nothing odd about the fact that I feel more Italian than anything else - because I AM more Italian than anything else. Half Italian, to be exact.

Andrew Michael Parodi

Average customer rating:

Special vignettes ...
You will fall in-Love with this dvd
not great
"One long Ferrari commercial"?
the italians

The Italians
Starring: Linda Hunt
Director: William Livingston
Manufacturer: Allumination
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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Italians in America - Our Contribution
Visions of Italy

ASIN: B00004T39I
Release Date: 2000-05-16

Amazon.com

Going beyond being a mere travelogue, this ambitious documentary from the Discovery Channel seeks to portray the character of the Italian people. The focus is on representative Italians, including the artistic engineers who craft the Ferrari sports cars, a fashion designer, and fishermen in a small seaside village. The locations vary greatly, with the camera visiting the trendy cities of Rome and Milan, the gorgeous Mediterranean scenery of Sicily, and the astounding and stark beauty of the soaring Italian Alps. Narrated by actress Linda Hunt, this is an atmospheric view of Italians, and it probably wouldn't be very practical for those seeking an instructional travel tape. However, the locations visited in this video are, for the most part, beautiful, and the photography is often stunning--and just the spectacular camera work would make this documentary a treat for the eyes, if nothing else. But the interviews with Italians seek to provide a sampling of the national character, with the emphasis on exuberant and artistic living, national pride, and timeless family traditions. As one interview subject puts it, Italians always strike "a rare blend of art and life." This production serves up a sumptuous sampling of Italian life. --Robert J. McNamara

Customer Reviews:

Special vignettes ..........2002-02-12

A beautiful production from Discovery Channel - it might seem like Ferrari picked up the tab, but is that a bad thing? Divided into segments on various aspects of the Italian "mystique", you first get a quick and colorful history of Ferrari, followed by excellent and thoughtful looks at fashion, a Sicilian fishing village with its traditions threatened by modern life, a reknowned photographer in Cortina, and a capsule look at Venice through the eyes of a local. Beautifully filmed overall, with some choice nuggets. I am anxious to show this to many friends who know and love Italy - I'm sure it will please both the sophisticated Italophile and the initiate.

You will fall in-Love with this dvd.......2002-02-06

I bought this dvd just to get a feel for Italy, since it had been a few years since my last visit there. I was very happy with this dvd. Its a very high quality done story with a GREAT section on Ferrari!!! I bought this dvd not even knowing it had a very cool backround on Ferrari and the making of the 550 Marranello(sp?). In fact, this is the single BEST video I have ever seen on Ferrari!!! If your a die hard car fan - you MUST see this dvd. The other stories on Italy and being Italian are done very well too!

In short I was really blown away by this well done video. You won't regret buy it. I am proud to say it sits in the top shelf of my dvd video collection.

not great.......2001-07-10

I bought this expecting to see Italy and learn about Italian culture, but what I found was 20 minutes of ferrari commercial and the rest interesting, but too specific--about a few peoples' lives--fishermen, an underwater photographer, and a designer. I think I was expecting a more general view. It was like an IMAX movie at a museum that you watch once, like it, but never see it again. It was neat, but I definitely wouldn't buy it again.

"One long Ferrari commercial"?.......2001-04-10

And that's a problem because...?

the italians.......2001-04-01

This DVD goes beyond the everyday travel documentary which this is not. This film takes you into the spirit and the soul of the italian people. It's characters como alive and make you feel this wonderful country. It must seen but everyone who has been or going to Italy for the first time. This is a diferent look of Italy.

Improbable Concerts of Italians to Russia, or San Remo in the Kremlin Collects Friends. A Part 1 / Neverojatnye Koncerty Ital'jancev V Rossii, Ili San-remo V Kremle Sobiraet Druzej. Chast' 1 (DVD PAL!!!)

Average customer rating:

Improbable Concerts of Italians to Russia, or San Remo in the Kremlin Collects Friends. A Part 1 / Neverojatnye Koncerty Ital'jancev V Rossii, Ili San-remo V Kremle Sobiraet Druzej. Chast' 1 (DVD PAL!!!)

Manufacturer: ICA Music
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Art House & International | Genres | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B000G29F08

Product Description

01. Diskoteka Avarija (Surovyj rjep) 02. Aleksa (Gde zhe ty?) 03. Viktor Saltykov i Tat'jana Ovsienko (Berega ljubvi) 04. Igor' Krutoj (Kolybel'naja) 05. JUrij Titov (Ponaroshku) 06. Reflex (Non Stop) 07. JUrij SHatunov (Ne bojsja) 08. Tanja Bulanova (Angel) 09. Zveri (Vse, chto kasaetsja) 10. Irina Dubcova (O nem) 11. Diana Gurckaja (Nezhnaja) 12. Igor' Krutoj i "Fabrika zvezd - 4" (Kontrasty) 13. Ahon'kova (Konfetnyj mal'chik) 14. Sveta (Ne moj) 15. Monokini (Tikaet) 16. Diskomafija (More po koleno).

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