NUNZIO

US, 1978, 87 minutes, Colour.
David Proval, James Andronica, Joe Spinel, Tovah Feldshuh, Morgana King, Theresa Saldana.
Directed by Paul Williams.

Nunzio is a surprisingly attractive film. It is particularly American and received screenings in the United States but did not travel to cinemas overseas. However, it appears in television screenings. Directed by Paul Williams, it was written by James Andronica (who plays the role of Jamesie). It is the story of a retarded young man, Nunzio, played expertly by David Proval. It shows his life at home, in the area of New York in which his family lives, at work, with friends, thinking that he is a Superman character, infatuated with an assistant in a cake shop, acting heroically in saving a child from an apartment block fire.

The film is very well written, the characters are very strongly drawn. Nunzio is an attractive character and we are made to like him as well as understand him. Included in the supporting cast are Joe Spinel as the owner of the shop, singer Morgana King as his mother and Tovah Feldshuh as the attractive assistant and a young Theresa Saldana as a sex-preoccupied young girl. A film that can be warmly recommended as entertaining and offering much food for reflection.

1. An attractive film? Interesting? Enjoyable? A piece of Americana?

2. A New York film: the use of location photography, the atmosphere of the city, the streets, the railway overpasses, the shops, the apartment blocks etc? The flavour of New York?, The characters situated in the city? The musical score, the songs?

3. The portrait of Nunzio - his appearance, in himself, his being slow-witted, his place in the family, his mother's love for him and support for him, her concern about him? Jamesie and his looking after him, sticking up for him, fighting for him? The affection in the family? Angelo giving him work, commenting on his carrying so many boxes, exasperated when he didn't turn up? Seeing Nunzio at work - wanting to carry as many boxes as possible, doing the deliveries, receiving his tips? The opening with his Superman costume? Going to the top of the building and imagining that he was Superman? His delight in Superman and comic figures? His friendship with the kids in the neighbourhood, their admiration for him, playing baseball with them, breaking the window and running away? The adolescent tough and their friendship, their disdain, ridiculing him, taunting him about reading, mock-admiration, his bumping into the car and their angry reaction? The young girl and the deliveries, her throwing herself on him, the sexual liaison? His going to Confession and the sermon about Hell? His attraction towards Michelle, looking in 'the window, buying the doughnuts, carrying her things home? Her mother? His disappointment when he discovered she had a husband and child? Her gentle explanations to him? His world, feelings, understanding and lack of understanding, delight in reading, fantasy? The bond with Jamesie? Scenes at home - meals, the announcement of his wanting to get married? His mother putting him to bed? his reliance on Suderman? His not taking the tips because Superman wouldn't? Fantasy and reality coming to him with his rescuing the child from the burning room, his falling like Superman and saving the child's life? The delight of the final photo for the newspapers with him, the family, the mother and baby?

4. Jamesie and his place in the family, his life, wife and child, visits, driving the truck, sticking up for Nunzio, attacking the toughs, helping him, the final concern when he didn't turn up at work, his joy at Nunzio's saving the child?

5. Nunzio's mother and her care, her skills? The warm sequences? Her knowing how to handle him, help him understand?

6. Angelo and his shop, work, the deliveries, Nunzio’s not turning up and Angelo’s reaction? His being in the final photo?

7. The young kids and their play, the baseball? The tough teenagers and their talk, his hitting the car, taunting him about reading, Jamesie and his violence-towards them and their backing down? A sketch of kids around the neighbourhood?

8. The young girl, her sexual advances, her reaction afterwards? Nunzio's going to Confession, his innocence in confessing, the hellfire and brimstone sermon of the priest?

9. Michelle as attractive, working in the shop, her mother, his visits and her reply, walking her home, her gentle explanation about falling in love, her husband and child?

10. The fire and Nunzio's heroics?

11. An attractively humane story, authentic, sympathetic, hopeful?