by Francesca Di Meglio

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the readers and are not necessarily shared by the proprietors, editors or other writers at ItaliansRus.com.

"I enjoyed your article very much. I am British, living in America, but for some 10 years I lived in Italy and have returned many times since as I have friends and family there.

One other reason that wasn't covered [in your article on] why the Italians don't mind De Niro playing Mafia roles, in my opinion, is that for Italians the Mafia is a fact of life. By which I do NOT mean that most Italians are mafiosi -- most are not and despise the mentality. But they are aware that it exists, and they watch many films, documentaries and television dramas that touch directly or indirectly on mafiosi past and present, real or fictional.

One other reason that wasn't covered [in your article on] why the Italians don't mind De Niro playing Mafia roles, in my opinion, is that for Italians the Mafia is a fact of life. By which I do NOT mean that most Italians are mafiosi -- most are not and despise the mentality. But they are aware that it exists, and they watch many films, documentaries and television dramas that touch directly or indirectly on mafiosi past and present, real or fictional.

I try to [understand] the mentality of people I live among but fail to understand the whole industry (books, articles, etc) in America which tries to sanitize this aspect of Italy. I can accept that the original immigrants from Italy were not [part of the] Mafia, if that is the case, and that they spoke strongly against it to their children. But links between the Sicilian Mafia, the Neapolitan Camorra, and the Calabrese 'Ndranghetta and Italians or their descendants in America did, and probably still do, exist

And so? For movie-makers and cinema goers, it makes exciting drama. In the same way that films about serial killers, aliens and vampires make exciting drama for those who are interested in those genres. In Europe, we are accustomed to seeing, and somewhat horrified by, all the films portraying Americans (of whatever racial mix) as violent gun-users, and this is the main fear I had to address in the minds of my friends and family worried about me coming to live in such a volatile environment. (And in my own mind, I must confess, before I arrived, [I thought]:  Would I be gunned down if I shopped at a 7-11 or cut someone off at the traffic lights?)  But should John Travolta be condemned for his role in Reservoir Dogs, for example, or John Wayne in his films, for portraying a stereotype based on a very tiny minority? I am British in America.  If people typecast me in their minds (and they do) because of their own version of English people gleaned from films, it is up to me to show them that not everyone lives in Dickens' foggy London or is a football hooligan.

I think it is great for Robert De Niro to be recognized in this way by Italy. I think it is great for Italians to see an actor they recognize as Italian doing so well and being so respected in the cut-throat movie world. And if the Sons of Italy and the like wish American Italians to be seen in a certain light, maybe they should reconsider the image that they are portraying. For what it's worth..."--Janette

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