Monday, September 17, 2007

Movie: "Canvas" An Italian American Story of Love, Loyalty and Devotion

The ANNOTICO Report

 

"Canvas," a new film to be released in mid October, stars Joe Pantoliano and Marcia Gay Harden, and was inspired by writer/director Joseph Greco's own story, and  is a critically acclaimed portrayal of a family that fights mental illness with love, hope and humor.

 

"Pantoliano's portrayal of John Marino is shaped by the love, loyalty and devotion to family that is fundamental to Italian American values.

 

 

Sons of Italy Endorses "Canvas,"

A Film About a Real Italian American Family

 

Washington, DC-- September 17, 2007 The Order Sons of Italy in America (OSIA), the nation's oldest and largest organization for men and women of Italian heritage, has strongly endorsed "Canvas," a new film starring Joe Pantoliano and Marcia Gay Harden.

 

Inspired by writer/director Joseph Greco's own story, "Canvas" is a critically acclaimed portrayal of a family that fights mental illness

with love, hope and humor.

 

"A severe illness like schizophrenia can destroy a marriage, but in his film, Joseph Greco presents an Italian

American husband and father whose values help save his family," says Philip Piccigallo, OSIA's executive director.

 

Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden stars as Mary Marino, a wife, mother and talented artist, who is struggling with schizophrenia. Emmy Award winner Joe Pantoliano plays her husband, John, who tries to help his wife while raising their 10-year old son, Chris, played by a gifted young actor, Devon Gearhart.

 

The OSIA endorsement came after Piccigallo reviewed the film earlier this year. "At last we see a movie about a real Italian American

family," he says. "Joe Pantoliano's portrayal of John Marino is shaped by the love, loyalty and devotion to family that we believe is

fundamental to Italian American values. We urge all our members and all people who want to see a moving story well told and well acted to see 'Canvas.'

 

"Canvas" will open in mid-October in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Fort Lauderdale. To request a showing of "Canvas" in your city, contact Screen Media Films at www.screenmediafilms.net or Email:

 

To see the "Canvas" trailer and details about the film, go to: www.canvasthefilm.com.

 

Order Sons of Italy in America, OSIA is the largest and oldest national organization in the United States for men and women of Italian descent in the United States. Established in 1905, OSIA has more than 600,000 members and supporters

and a network of more than 745 chapters coast to coast.

 

OSIA works at the community, national and international levels to promote the heritage and culture of an estimated 16-26 million Italian

Americans, the nation's fifth largest ethnic group, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. OSIA: http://www.osia.org

 

Contact:  Kylie Cafiero, Director of Communications, email: kcafiero@osia.org   phone: 202/547-2900

 

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