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Simply Perfect

Sick Product of a Sick System

Memorable, crazy movie

Strong acting helps the film overcome an uncertain premise and create characters that hold our attention absolutely.

The fate and fortunes of an Italian family living in England survive many dramatic changes, beginning when the father takes the advice of a talking pig's head on a platter and strikes it rich at a card game. Fans of the British TV cult miniseries 'The Singing Detective' might know (to some degree at least) what to expect from director Jon Amiel's oddball follow-up: an often fantastic but always engaging fable full of magic and mischief, lucky charms and bad omens, rivalries, vendettas, wild coincidences, and eccentric characters. It opens like the last act of some grand Italian opera, but can't hope to sustain the same level of energy and invention all the way to the final credits. There's a false climax involving a magic box which makes the actual conclusion seem almost an afterthought, but elsewhere it's a lively, compassionate, unpredictable film, and unlike Amiel's previous film no one suffers any horrible skin diseases.

One of the most charming films of the 80's. It's a happy, sad, tragic, comic and glorious film about an Italian immigrant family living in England, filled with the kind of characters that used to be so common in 30's and 40's films when we had character actors who played outrageous, over-the-top parts.The story opens in Italy where Danilo steals Rosa away on her wedding day from the man her mother had chosen for her. Their escape plays with the action of a Republic serial but with a totally unexpected comic ending. The two flee to London where Danilo is given the secret to winning at cards from a talking stuffed pig on a meat platter. But his success is short lived and he and his family soon turn to running a coffee shop that is only marginally successful. The rest of the film is taken up with marriage and family and the adventures of life that happened while they wait for that lucky break-----------and it happens with an extraordinary event that pulls joy from tragedy. I'll only tell you that for the men in her life, Rosa remains the Queen of Hearts.The film has all the sweetness and heartache of FORREST GUMP------------and all the love and inspiration, too--------backed my lush romantic music that parallels the emotion of the characters.If you buy only one film from the MGM Vault Classics, I'd recommend this one.

I was particularly impressed with the opening scene, and the surprising leap from the top of the arch by the lovers and more surprising appearance of a wagon loaded with hay. One of my favorite scenes was the arrival of grandfather to the family and his exuberant greeting to his grandson.

Ever since I saw this film in 1990 on PBS, I can not get it out of my mind. I am a Canadian of Italian descent and I related so much to this movie, I could not believe it. The interaction between all the family members, the true essence and spirit of being in an Italian family and the relationship between nonno and grand-son made me relate to mine with my grand-dad when growing up in Montreal, Canada. This movie is just wonderful and a great feel good one at that. I am still looking to buy it on video and can not find it. It truly is to be treasured !