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Household Saints

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Household Saints
Theatrical release poster
Directed byNancy Savoca
Written byNancy Savoca
Richard Guay
Based onHousehold Saints
byFrancine Prose
Produced byPeter Newman
Richard Guay
StarringTracey Ullman
Vincent D'Onofrio
Lili Taylor
Judith Malina
CinematographyBobby Bukowski
Edited byElizabeth Kling
Music byStephen Endelman
Production
companies
Jones Entertainment
Peter Newman Productions
Distributed byFine Line Features
Release date
  • September 15, 1993(1993-09-15)
(limited)[1]
Running time
124 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$712,418[1]

Household Saintsis a 1993 film starringTracey Ullman,Vincent D'OnofrioandLili Taylor.It is based on the novel byFrancine Proseand directed byNancy Savoca.[2]The film explores the lives of three generations ofItalian-Americanwomen over the course of the latter half of the 20th century. The film's executive producer isJonathan Demme,a long-time friend of Savoca's, and her first real employer in the world of film.[3]In 2023, the film received a4Krestoration fromMilestone Films,who later gave the film a theatrical release.

Plot

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The film follows the courtship and marriage of Catherine Falconetti to local butcher Joseph Santangelo, as well as Catherine's relationship with her overbearingOld Worldmother-in-law, Carmela.

The film also focuses on Catherine and Joseph's daughter Teresa, a devoutCatholicmore 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 becanonizedas a saint. Teresa's teenage fantasy to become anunis 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

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Production

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Nancy Savoca cast many favoriteNew York Cityactors for the film which was shot in DeLaurentis/Carolco (nowEUE Screen Gems) Studios inWilmington, North Carolina.[4]The film reunited Lili Taylor with Savoca, with whom she'd previously worked onDogfight,and Vincent D'Onofrio, with whom she'd appeared in 1988'sMystic Pizza.

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

Release

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Although the film was met with critical success on release, it had only been released onVHSand remained out of print foryears.[5]

In 2023, it was announced thatMilestone Filmshad acquired distribution rights to the film, and that a new restoration would have its world premiere at that year'sNew York Film Festival,preceded by Savoca's 1982 student shortRenata.[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

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Critical reception

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On review aggregatorRotten Tomatoes,Household Saintshas an approval rating of 68% based on 19 reviews.[11]Roger Ebertgave 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

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The film madeThe New York Times'Best Films of 1993 list.[13]It was nominated for aIndependent Spirit Award for Best Screenplayby Nancy Savoca and Richard Guay. Lili Taylor won anIndependent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female.[14]

References

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  1. ^ab"Household Saints".Box Office Mojo.
  2. ^Wilmington, Michael (October 1, 1993)."'Household' Elevates the Ordinary Through the Mundane ".Chicago Tribune.Archived fromthe originalon December 26, 2018.RetrievedDecember 25,2018.
  3. ^Beale, Lewis (July 12, 2012)."Nancy Savoca talks about 'Union Square'".Newsday.RetrievedDecember 25,2018.
  4. ^"What are the top 10 movies ever made in Wilmington?".Star-News.January 26, 2006.RetrievedDecember 25,2018.
  5. ^Liebenson, Donald (July 11, 2022)."Cinematic Treasures Are Disappearing. That's Where Missing Movies Comes In".Vanity Fair.
  6. ^"Household Saints".New York Film Festival.RetrievedAugust 22,2023.
  7. ^Hoberman, J. (January 11, 2024)."'Household Saints': Miracles on Mulberry Street ".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedJanuary 12,2024.
  8. ^"Saved from obscurity, Nancy Savoca's 1993 film 'Household Saints' is back on the big screen".wbur.org.January 3, 2024.RetrievedJanuary 12,2024.
  9. ^Crump, Andy (January 10, 2024)."Household Saints: Restoration and New Recognition After 30 Years".Paste Magazine.RetrievedJanuary 12,2024.
  10. ^"Household Saints".Milestone Films.RetrievedAugust 3,2024.
  11. ^"Household Saints".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedFebruary 8,2024.
  12. ^abEbert, Roger (October 1, 1993)."Household Saints".RogerEbert.RetrievedOctober 9,2022.
  13. ^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.ISSN0362-4331.RetrievedOctober 9,2022.
  14. ^Fox, David J. (March 21, 1994)."Spirit Awards--a Hollywood Maverick Gets Tamed".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedDecember 25,2018.
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