User Reviews

The influx of European immigrants to Australia in the years following the second World War helped shape the country, and they also brought their rich culture and traditions which slowly shaped our multicultural nature. But there are very few films that document the rich experience of these migrants and their impact on Australia's history and culture. In this fascinating, entertaining and affectionate documentary, first time feature film makers Shannon Swan and Angelo Pricolo look at the wave of immigrant from Italy who seemed to congregate in a rundown area of Carlton and slowly shaped the identity of this iconic shopping strip that has been dubbed "Little Italy". They brought their love of food, conversation, and coffee, and helped open a number of cafes, restaurants and pizza places that have shaped Lygon Street over the past few decades. But the film also deals with more universal themes as it also explores the racism encountered by these early migrants as they adjusted to life in a strange new country. Australians were initially suspicious of the Italian immigrants and some strange aspects of their culture. Many of the new arrivals were sent to detention camps in rural Victoria, where their biggest complaint seemed to centre on the food they were served by Russian cooks. Drawing upon a wealth of archival footage, photographs and interviews with many of these migrants, Swan and Pricolo paint a wonderfully vibrant picture of this colourful area. Pricolo is a member of this close knit community and he provided Swan with the many connections vital to shaping the film. Among the people interviewed are former Victorian Governor Sir James Gobbo; Salvatore Della Bruna, who founded Australia's first pizza house with the iconic Toto's; and Giancarlo Giusti, who introduced Auatralian palates to the joys of boutique coffee. Swan doesn't shy away from exploring the more shady side of Lygon Street either, as he talks to the colourful local identity Mick Gatto, who, not surprisingly, plays down the criminal element and remarks that the criminal reputation of Carlton was largely fostered through television programs like Underbelly. And there is an extended round table discussion in which a number of the more prominent local retailers and original shop keepers freely talk about their personal histories and the history of the area. We learn about local landmarks like Brunetti's, the former Pram Factory, which was a hub for creative people, and La Mama theatre. And we also see images of the Lygon Street Festival and its famed greasy pole, and we get newsreel footage from 1983 when Australia won the America's Cup and the tumultuous celebrations that seemed to centre around Lygon Street. The film is narrated by Anthony LaPaglia (tv's Without A Trace, etc), who clearly identified with the people and the history. Filmed over the course of a couple of years, Lygon Street: Si Parla Italiano is a labour of love for both Swan and Pricolo. It is a must see for local history buffs. And it also offers plenty of food for thought. At a time when debate continues to rage over migrants and their status this wonderful film reveals the lasting and positive impact that they can have on an area.