Just when you thought American independent cinema was dead and gobbled up by the majors, here comes two strong, new voices straight outta Brooklyn (and Queens), Matthew Bonifacio and Carmine Famiglhetti, the director and writer/star of “Amexicano,” a low budget indie feature (and I mean truly indie) that has the power to make you feel compassion where you thought you had none, and will likely make you and whomever you’re watching it with, argue about the very topic that is so central to its plot but not really what the movie is about — illegal immigration.
Personally, I’m not one who enjoys reviews that detail every last scene, so that’s not what I am going to do here. Roll trailer:
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The real story in “Amexicano” is the true friendship that forms between two men from different worlds with the exact same needs on the streets of present day America. Bruno, the down on his luck Italian from Queens and Ignacio, the salt of the earth Mexican from Mexico, both need work and money and all the dignity and freedom that comes along with it.
Freedom for Bruno would mean that he can finally move out of his friend’s basement and “get a life,” while freedom for Ignacio means he can make enough money to provide for himself and his family and live in the land of opportunity. They’re both after the exact same thing — though through Ignacio’s eyes the American dream still has all the mystery, excitement and sense of adventure about it — something so many have romanticized poorly in the past, yet Bonifacio actually captures through this character.
Mr. Famiglhetti is so good as Bruno that you’re shocked when you realize he also penned the script. This is a major talent who bucked the system every step of the way and as the pic’s producer he self-released it after its run at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Bonifacio’s deft use of the camera is a refreshing change from the bizarre out of focus “Dogme 95” style of filmmaking that became popular in the 90’s and somehow passed as art. “Amexicano” feels more like a Hal Ashby picture than it does modern day quick-cut/hard to follow indie fare.
“Amexicano” is high quality, honest storytelling that brings back a time when American cinema wasn’t so much overtly political as it was overtly truthful and with a moral ending left to the audience. It’s well worth your time to rent or buy it as the first in a collection of new American classics that truly do represent the “New Hollywood.”
The DVD is on the shelf at WalMart and Target and available on-line through Nexflix or Amazon.com.
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