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| Lili Taylor in Household Saints |
Cast: Tracey Ullman, Vincent D'Onofrio, Lili Taylor, Judith Malina, Michael Rispoli, Victor Argo, Michael Imperioli, Rachel Bella, Ileana Douglas, Joe Grifasi. Screenplay: Richard Guay, Nancy Savoca, based on a novel by Savoca. Cinematography: Bobby Bukowski. Production design: Kalina Ivanova. Film editing: Elizabeth King. Music: Stephen Endelman.
As a portrayal of a certain kind of religious obsession peculiar to immigrant families, Nancy Savoca's adaptation of Francine Prose's novel Household Saints has warmth and charm balanced with a touch of skepticism. Judith Malina and Tracey Ullman overcome the caricature inherent in their roles as Old World mama and New World daughter-in-law, and Lili Taylor is wonderful as Teresa, who inherits her grandmother's piety with a new intensity. Vincent D'Onofrio is a touch too contemporary in style for the role of the butcher Joseph Santangelo, who tries unsuccessfully to impose his will on the women in his life. The film runs about half an hour too long. It could have jettisoned the subplot dealing with the obsession of Nicky Falconetti (Michael Rispoli) with Asian women, which has something to do with Madame Butterfly, and the framing scenes that set up the veneration of Teresa aren't really necessary. Household Saints sometimes overstates the comedy, but that's a risk inherent in the story, and Savoca manages to avoid the temptation to milk the material for tears.
