Household Saints

Household Saints
File:Household Saints 1993.jpg Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Nancy Savoca
Written by	Nancy Savoca Richard Guay
Based on	Household Saints by Francine Prose
Produced by	Peter Newman Richard Guay
Starring	Tracey Ullman Vincent D'Onofrio Lili Taylor Judith Malina
Cinematography	Bobby Bukowski
Edited by	Elizabeth Kling
Music by	Stephen Endelman
Production companies	Jones Entertainment Peter Newman Productions
Distributed by	Fine Line Features
Release date	September 15, 1993 (1993-09-15) (limited)
Running time	124 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Box office	$712,418

Household Saints is a 1993 film starring Tracey Ullman, Vincent D'Onofrio and Lili Taylor. It is based on the novel by Francine Prose and directed by Nancy Savoca. The film explores the lives of three generations of Italian-American women over the course of the latter half of the 20th century. The film's executive producer is Jonathan Demme, a long-time friend of Savoca's, and her first real employer in the world of film. In 2023, the film received a 4K restoration from Milestone Films, who later gave the film a theatrical release.

Plot

The film follows three generations of a New York Italian American family, beginning in the 1950s with the courtship and marriage of Catherine Falconetti to local butcher Joseph Santangelo, who wins her hand after beating her father in a game of pinocle. The first half focuses on Catherine adjusting to her new life as a mother and housewife, as well as her strained relationship with her overbearing Old World mother-in-law, Carmela.

The second half focuses on Catherine and Joseph's daughter Teresa, a devout Catholic more similar to her superstitious grandmother than her modernized and secularized parents. As a child and young adult, Teresa puts herself through a series of trials so that she might one day be canonized as a saint. Her desire to become a nun is challenged, however, when she becomes involved with Leonard, an ambitious young man who wishes to marry her.

The film explores both family dynamics over the course of time as well as, on a larger level, the relationship between religious faith in miracles and modernity.

Cast

• Tracey Ullman as Catherine Falconetti
• Vincent D'Onofrio as Joseph Santangelo
• Lili Taylor as Teresa Carmela Santangelo
  • Rachael Bella as young Teresa
• Judith Malina as Carmela Santangelo
• Michael Rispoli as Nicky Falconetti
• Victor Argo as Lino Falconetti
• Michael Imperioli as Leonard Villanova
• Illeana Douglas as Evelyn Santangelo
• Joe Grifasi as Frank Manzone
• Sebastian Roché as Jesus

Production

Nancy Savoca cast many favorite New York City actors for the film which was shot in DeLaurentis/Carolco (now EUE Screen Gems) Studios in Wilmington, North Carolina. The film reunited Lili Taylor with Savoca, with whom she'd previously worked on Dogfight, and Vincent D'Onofrio, with whom she'd appeared in 1988's Mystic Pizza.

Tracey Ullman and Vincent D'Onofrio, as Lili Taylor's screen parents, are only eight years older than she is.

Release

Although the film was met with critical success on release, it had only been released on VHS and remained out of print for years.

In 2023, it was announced that Milestone Films had acquired distribution rights to the film, and that a new restoration would have its world premiere at that year's New York Film Festival, preceded by Savoca's 1982 student short Renata. The 4K restoration began a limited theatrical run in January 2024.

Finally, in April 2024, Kino Lorber released this 4K restoration on both DVD and Blu-ray.

Reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Household Saints has an approval rating of 72% based on 18 reviews. Roger Ebert gave the film four out of four stars and called it a "warm-hearted jewel of a movie" with many scenes that rang true to his Catholic upbringing. He added:

Savoca wants to show how, in only three generations, an Italian family that is comfortable with the mystical turns into an American family that is threatened by it. And she wants to explore the possibilities of sainthood in these secular days. That she sees great humor in her subject is perfect; it is always easier to find the truth through laughter.

Accolades

The film made The New York Times' Best Films of 1993 list. It was nominated for a Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay by Nancy Savoca and Richard Guay. Lili Taylor won an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female.

External links

• Household Saints at IMDb
• Household Saints at Rotten Tomatoes
• Household Saints at Box Office Mojo