Blog 11

Liam Breslin
Dr. Esa
Reel Food
5/3/20
Blog 11
Italy is an absolutely whimsical and stunning country. From its beautiful language to its astounding landmarks, it never fails to culturally impress. Have you ever been there? I have always dreamed of going, as I myself am 50% (on the dot) Italian. With all these various features the country has to offer, it is easy to overlook the most recognizable and loved: its food. Both the films Big Night and Dinner Rush highlight the delicious importance that traditional Italian cuisine holds with the Italian people cooking it. However, these films also depict the over-Americanization of Italian food in the present day and how it strays from tradition. 
Big Night is set in 50's New Jersey, portraying 2 brothers, Primo and Segundo, trying to have a successful business running an Italian restaurant. Primo emphasizes the cultural importance of adhering to traditional Italian food preparation while his younger brother feels as though sometimes tradition won't sell as well or be as successful. Similarly, in Dinner Rush, Louis Cropa, the main character, often fights with his son, Udo, over traditionally italian food served in their restaurant. Louis is the owner while Udo is the head chef, and while Udo himself hesitates to cook the traditional food even for Louis himself to eat, the sous chef, Duncan, takes his time and cooks more to Louis’s liking. Unlike the empty and quiet restaurant that Primo and Segundo fight to keep afloat, Louis’s restaurant is bustling and packed quite often. Additionally, one of the main plot-line in Dinner Rush is directly related to organized crime and murder, something that Big Night lacks in its more baseline story. 
I personally enjoyed Big Night more than I enjoyed Dinner Rush. Big Night offers a sense of tradition and rich italian history that I feel gets droned out in Dinner Rush by the mobster plot. Equally, as I myself am Italian I relate to and understand both brothers perspectives and emotions as well as am familiar and recognize many of the foods featured in the film. Both films are great, but Big Night just had the bigger night for me! In case you were wondering, I'd give it a 8/10!! 

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