Vito Bonafacci (2011) User Reviews (7)

"Vito Bonafacci" is today's Everyman

[Flowerhorn · 7/10 · 8 December 2010]

Modern day people have fallen into the trap of living an unreal existence. We do not really believe that anything "bad" can happen to us, that we can or will, really cease to exist in this world someday. We know that such a thing can happen, but for some reason, our reality is only today, this moment, this place and we live to make ourselves happy, as best we can. We no longer even bother to contemplate the possibility that it might behoove us to think beyond the TV set, that the choices we make now, may really affect a future life. Whatever happened to meditating on the 4 last things, "Death, Judgment, Hell and Heaven"? What happens if or when we live life as shallow drifters instead of pilgrims following a sure path? Ask Vito Bonafacci.

This is a very thoughtful film. It's a good film for this generation, because it addresses a lot of things that people no longer even want to hear about. One can dismiss this kind of film as being irrelevant to a world in which many no longer believe in anything but themselves, but (and I always think this), what if "they" are wrong? What if one person's opinion is just that, his own opinion, with no bearing whatsoever on facts? What if age old wisdom is still wise? For anyone willing to spend the time and the effort to really seek out God, the answer can be found in a multitude of places in a multitude of ways, all leading to the same conclusion. "There is a God, and I am not Him."

"Vito Bonafacci" is a good movie to at least start a conversation going. For some people it may do a great deal more than that.

a near death experience converts a worldly atheist

[drdavila · 8/10 · 25 September 2013]

Vito, the Good Deed Doer, the conversion of a hedonist rich atheist to Christianity after a near death experience.

In his conversation with his maid, he asks her whether he will go to heaven or hell and where God will send him or others. This is theologically incorrect. God does not send anyone to heaven or hell, heaven or hell is created within the person's very own being by the very decision they take before their own being and God Himself.

Vito then enters into despair of the objective truth and says that anyone can really justify anything on this earth and the objective standards of good and evil simply become obsolete. What he doesn't know however (and in this case it would have helped him greatly to read the works of Blessed Cardinal John Newman) is that the last word in anyone's life is his own conscience and how sincere he truly was too it. This is what in the last run, determines one's salvation or not. In another flash of his mother, she accuses Vito of having a thirst for high esteem and that this thirst was engendered by hell itself. What this neurotic, naive and nagging woman (theologically completely off base) does not know about and would have done her a lot of good to know is a bit about affirmation psychology. It would have done a lot of good for her and her son Vito instead of just grinding him through the sausage grinder. If Vito has a thirst for esteem, it is a natural thirst coming from a lack of love, affection and emotional acceptance, not from the stupid place of hell. Not having met this need, poor Vito sought it in the world and its attractions. His mother was too blind and not affirmed herself to see that. Vito has doubts about his own goodness and I know where that came from: his own mother who never affirmed him emotionally to confirm that goodness to him, so now he seeks the answer from others. At one point he does say that he is a good person, yet why then be perturbed with the idea of not being good, if you already said you were good? The accordion player gives a rather awkward and simplistic idea and view of eternity as if it were an indeterminate extension of time. There is some truth to what he says, but eternity is much more than that: it is one moment of total or infinite reality in which we will bask in everlasting life or burn in everlasting pain according to what we truly will ask for of our own free and unhindered will. The decision nonetheless is a serious one. Though an attempt is made to describe the joys of heaven or pains of hell to something of the earth, there is really no possible comparison to this, but the decision to where we want to spend our eternity is truly ours and ours alone. Though fear is a good and valid reason to get us to heaven, it is not the best one. There is a beautiful Moslem prayer that says: "Oh Lord, if I desire you to obtain the joys of heaven, then take them all away from my soul, if I desire you only for the reason of escaping from the pains of hell, then throw me to the deepest part of it, but if I love you only for you and nothing else but you, then bring me to wherever you are or dwell." Vito's friends tell him that they like him and admire the good deeds he does; now why couldn't his arrogant mother see this also? Saint Francis of Sales tells us that you can draw flies with honey but catch none of them with vinegar. If Vito's mother had not been so bitter, but said sweet words like a good mother generally does (instead of being a witch), she would have won her son over to Christ many years ago. Thank God, Vito does have a happy ending and the flashbacks of his youth, similar to the memories that the prodigal son reminisces bring him back to conversion. Though the first priest said many and useful things to Vito and helped and strengthened him towards conversion, he should have emphasized more the love aspect and person of Christ not so much the part that fear plays in our religion. The teaching on the rosary by the nun will help not only Vito, but will draw many Vitos and Vitas out there in the world through this precious scene and prayer. All in all, I thought the film to be very good, educational and evangelizing. I am sure it will boost up the faith of many lukewarm Catholics and have them think and reflect on the true meaning of life and our journey on this earth. Yet I felt to be a bit incomplete for bringing in the main reason for any conversion: the knowledge, love and acceptance and union with the very person of Christ who is the principle reason for our very existence, meaning and future of our lives. Before I end, I want to also give my opinion on the technical aspects of the film. All the actors and actresses did excellent and they are to be congratulated on their performance. The scenes were very well done and the camera work was very competent, the places chosen were beautiful and fit very well in the story. The instrumental background was perfect and quite in harmony with the story. The gender was a type of modern surrealism very pertinent for a society that refuses to even stop a moment to smell a rose or give their body and bladder a moment of necessary rest and function.

Good film with an important message

[marybadger · 12 January 2011]

This film was spiritually and visually nourishing. The thought provoking dialog and carefully minimized action, enhanced by the musical score were almost meditative. The people to whom Vito Bonafacci goes for advice are diverse enough to be representative of a considerable section of humanity, at least Western humanity. The "advice" they offer is also quite representative of the prevailing thoughts on "good", Heaven, hell, and God's role in our lives. The flashbacks are particularly rich in wisdom and it is comforting to suppose that one might actually draw on past lessons and the wisdom of elders when searching for clarification in later life. I would hope that this film will be readily available for viewing by church groups and, indeed, everyone in our complacent, spiritually deficient society!

STILL An Awful, Derivative, Amateurish Mess

[Cinnyaste · 1/10 · 27 December 2011]

POSTSCRIPT: In re-reading the review for this piece of crap I noted a sad attempt by the alleged filmmakers to raise the score. Offering scungilli and a cannoli as a reward, they drafted a few cronies to write reviews to falsely raise the rating. Check: the review dates (most within a week); the similarly illiterate style ("Modern day people"? Mean contemporary society?); how many other reviews the 'reviewers' wrote. HOLY COW!!! Only ONE. They came out of the woodwork to write one review and retreat back into the night? Sure, that can happen. (Hilarity ensues when checking the filmmakers, er, reviewers Profiles. 'They' all signed up within a month or two.)

Filmmakers, your film stinks. Man Up.

And now the original review:

The barely serviceable talents of Paul Borghese are wasted in this flaccid melodrama with ideas 'borrowed' from too many films to name. The direction and script are strictly amateur (read the synopsis for a preview of the pseudo-intellectual, turgid style - not to mention typos and incorrect verb-subject agreement).

What could have been an interesting take on redemption is a talky, self-important production with all the appeal of day old pasta. The richness of Italian-American life lost in a mire of cliché-ridden scenes offering little real emotion save audience ennui.

Opera offers epic scale to minute human emotions. This ego production, probably well-meaning, strives for operatic greatness yet by the time the fat lady sings the viewer, in lieu of being uplifted, is left grateful the torture is over.

It's a shame wannabe auteurs fail to take time to look outside themselves and seek help from professionals who could have helped tweak the script. Or hire a Director with some chops. (Take a look at the clip on the official website for a sample of the locked down, incredibly bad camera blocking when a waiter is placed between the lead and the camera.) At least this 'Independent Filmmaker' didn't churn out another crappy horror movie. At least not intentionally.

A unique spiritual experience

[rockingchick29 · 10/10 · 13 December 2010]

I found the movie a refreshing experience. We all have to come to terms with what kind of life we have lead. I feel that Paul Boughese did and excellent job of showing how God and the Spirit play a very important roll in the life we lead. Even if you are not of any religious persuasion, this movie will touch the depths of your soul. I left the theater feeling great about who I am and a deep recognition of what my life at 58 should be. It was his fear of death that brought him back to spirituality. As an Italian, having his momma keep reminding him that our good is not the same as God's good, just clinches it for him. The movie did a great job of showing us Vito's opinion of good was not the only thing that mattered, he went a step further and asked those who were subservient, equal and above him, "what their opinion of good is?" And finally his fears, love, respect of his momma and his religious background overcame the fear and turned it into strength, This gave him new life therefore, thru the gates of the future he went. I think that this movie should be distributed to all churches and faiths throughout the nation. We need a little more of Vito in our lives. I commend Mr Paul Borghese for taking this role and performing it HEAVENLY. I was honored to share it with him.

Liked This Film

[csx106 · 10/10 · 5 December 2010]

I found the film "Vito Bonafacci" to be a beautiful, compelling and enriching movie with all the characters portrayed with a very nice human touch. So much so, that it was difficult to separate the real life actors from the roles they were playing. It was interesting how Vito's driveway gate was used to divide the story into its main segments. Also enjoyed the scene where the maid made breakfast for Vito. You actually watched her step by step in the kitchen cook the meal. It added a touch of realism when she served it to him at the picnic table on the back lawn. I just loved the long pauses in the movie with a beautiful background composition playing. It allowed one to contemplate the previous dialogs. Also, the flashbacks to the days of Vito's youth were done excellently and well timed. There were many other neat little things like the above that show a great degree of creativeness by the writer-producer John Martoccia. But it would be remiss of me not to mention the superb musical background selections. Each one seemed to fit the situation perfectly. The music alone would make it worthwhile to see this film. For me the viewing of this movie was an enjoyable and inspirational experience.

Vito's story is one of conviction, repentance, and conversion

[blincrepeau · 18 February 2011]

A Review of the Film Vito Bonafacci

• Bob Crepeau

The title character in John Martoccia's film Vito Bonafacci is a rare example, at least in our time, of a person suddenly jolted into a quest for spiritual truth and the meaning of a previously unexamined life. Here is a story of wrenching inner struggle and conversion, a theme comparable to such powerful films as Tender Mercies, On the Waterfront, and The Mission. In fact, Vito's flashbacks to his youth, the sad state of his present life, and the possible horror of an unrepentant death remind one of Scrooge's one night transformation in the Dicken's classic.

Though similar to the above in theme, Vito Bonafacci employs its own unique style of presentation. Set within the richness of the Italian-American community, we realize as we journey with Vito on his quest for truth and meaning, that both European and American cultures rest on the foundation of traditional Christian values. Also, the authenticity of the characters in the film is strengthened by the actor's own Italian roots. Mike Rizzo, the car washer, and Father Dellos, for example, had only to be themselves to become completely believable characters.

Paul Borghese as Vito is outstanding as he accomplishes the most difficult task of communicating mental and spiritual conflict very effectively in a variety of ways. Vito's wife, the barber, the maid, the grandfather, the gardener, the young priest, and the nun each contributes to the authenticity not only of character, but of setting, plot, and theme as well. Vito's dead mother's admonitions continuously prod his soul searching through much of the film. The selective use of Italian with subtitles is most effective.

Mention must be made of certain technical elements that heighten the film's impact. Vito's angry rejection of his sumptuous breakfast near the film's opening scenes and his humble but eager reception of spiritual food near the end provide both dramatic contrast and a structural framework for the entire film. The unities of time and place are carefully maintained as we travel with Vito on his "long day's journey into light."

A number of excellent transitional devices sensitively connect various scenes. One example is when the camera rises in a grove of tall pines and then gradually fades into the magnificent interior of a Catholic church where it slowly pans downward from the arched ceiling to a nun in prayer. Finally, carefully chosen scenes of nature on the grounds of Vito's estate provide the viewer with brief interludes to absorb and contemplate the profound implications of what Vito is experiencing.

The central themes of this powerful film might best be summarized by citing three quotes - one ancient, one modern, one eternal:

The unexamined life is not worth living.

• Plato

We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started, knowing it for the first time.

• T.S. Eliot

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I

will give you rest.

• Jesus