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.[2] 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.[3] In 2023, the film received a 4K restoration from Milestone Films, who later gave the film a theatrical release.
| Household Saints | |
|---|---|
 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 |
|
Running time | 124 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $712,418[1] |
Plot
editThe film follows the courtship and marriage of Catherine Falconetti to local butcher Joseph Santangelo, as well as Catherine's relationship with her overbearing Old World mother-in-law, Carmela.
The film also 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. Teresa's teenage fantasy to become a nun is strained after starting a relationship with a marriage-minded young man.
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
edit- 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
editNancy 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.[4] 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
editAlthough the film was met with critical success on release, it had only been released on VHS and remained out of print for years.[5]
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.[6] The 4K restoration began a limited theatrical run in January 2024.[7][8][9]
Finally, in April 2024, Kino Lorber released this 4K restoration on both DVD and Blu-ray.[10]
Reception
editCritical reception
editOn review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, Household Saints has an approval rating of 68% based on 19 reviews.[11] 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.[12] 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."[12]
Accolades
editThe film made The New York Times' Best Films of 1993 list.[13] 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.[14]
References
edit- ^ a b "Household Saints". Box Office Mojo.
- ^ Wilmington, Michael (October 1, 1993). "'Household' Elevates the Ordinary Through the Mundane". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
- ^ Beale, Lewis (July 12, 2012). "Nancy Savoca talks about 'Union Square'". Newsday. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
- ^ "What are the top 10 movies ever made in Wilmington?". Star-News. January 26, 2006. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
- ^ Liebenson, Donald (July 11, 2022). "Cinematic Treasures Are Disappearing. That's Where Missing Movies Comes In". Vanity Fair.
- ^ "Household Saints". New York Film Festival. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
- ^ Hoberman, J. (January 11, 2024). "'Household Saints': Miracles on Mulberry Street". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ^ "Saved from obscurity, Nancy Savoca's 1993 film 'Household Saints' is back on the big screen". www.wbur.org. January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ^ Crump, Andy (January 10, 2024). "Household Saints: Restoration and New Recognition After 30 Years". Paste Magazine. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ^ "Household Saints". Milestone Films. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ "Household Saints". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ a b Ebert, Roger (October 1, 1993). "Household Saints". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
- ^ Maslin, Janet (December 26, 1993). "THE YEAR IN THE ARTS: Film/1993; Good Men, Good Women And a Presence of 'Malice'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 9, 2022.
- ^ Fox, David J. (March 21, 1994). "Spirit Awards--a Hollywood Maverick Gets Tamed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 25, 2018.