From ‘Godfather’ to guitarist: Dominic Chianese shows his sensitive side in Westchester

Dominic Chianese is best known for playing brash tough guys like “Uncle Junior” Soprano and Johnny Ola in “The Godfather Part II.”

The veteran actor shows a tender side in a short film titled “The Old Guitarist,” which opens the Westchester Italian Film Festival at The Picture House Bronxville this weekend.

The film, which will be screened Friday, sets the stage for an evening in which Chianese will be honored with the Picture House Regional Film Center’s Lifetime Achievement Award. 

The film, written and directed by Pelham native Will Nunziata, eavesdrops on a man who’s looking back on vignettes from his life. Without speaking a word, Chianese expresses a range of emotions  — joy, pain and finally, moving toward reconciliation.

“At the end of the day Dominic is a classically trained actor,” said Nunziata. “In our business of show, people like to pigeonhole people. He’s also a very sensitive actor and his bones and craft are from the theater. … When people see the film, they’ll see the emotional capacity of Dominic being nuanced.”

Nunziata calls the film an homage to Picasso’s painting of the same name, but with a flavor that honors his own Italian heritage.

The six-and-a-half minute feature co-stars Mike Cefalo portraying the guitarist as a young man and Ayden Syke as his wife. Original music is performed by John T. LaBarbera, who frequently accompanies Chianese, who’s also an accomplished singer.

A love letter to Chianese

The director and actor met some 25 years ago at the Pelham Gazebo, when Nunziata was beginning his singing career with his twin brother, Anthony, and Chianese was performing with Phillip Kiamie’s band.

The two kept in touch over the years, and Nunziata was thrilled to finally work with his longtime friend on a film he called a love letter to the 92-year-old Chianese, a former Irvington resident who now lives in London.

Nunziata, 39, has a long list of credits as a director, writer and creator of theater, concerts and film. For 20 years he toured worldwide as a singer-songwriter with his brother, once headlining at Carnegie Hall.

He was most recently in Montreal as stage director for the symphony orchestra premiere of “Mad Hatter The Musical,” which is moving to London’s West End and possibly on its way to Broadway. 

Nunziata, a Pelham Memorial High School graduate who grew up going to the movies at The Picture House, called having his film shown at his hometown festival “a wonderful ‘full circle’ moment.”

“It’s a community of people whom I take with me on my life’s journey,” said Nunziata, who now lives in New York City.

2017:'Sopranos' star Chianese to take part in memoir book talk

Celebrating Italian women

This weekend’s showings, which are split between the Picture House Regional Film Center’s two historic theaters in Bronxville and Pelham, mark the Italian Film Festival’s return since the start of the pandemic. The nonprofit is presenting the films in partnership with the Italian American Forum. 

The festival’s selections honor the women of Italian cinema. Screenings include “Big Night,” featuring Isabella Rossellini; “La Riffa,” with Monica Bellucci; “Marriage Italian Style,” featuring Sophia Loren, “Rome, Open City,” with Anna Magnani; and “That’s How We Women Are,” featuring Monica Vitti.”

“Great actresses in central roles are one of the hallmarks of Italian film,” said Laura deBuys, executive director of The Picture House. “We think they should be celebrated.” 

In addition to the opening night Q&A, post-film discussions will accompany the films “Mister Wonderland” with filmmaker Valerio Ciriaci and cinematographer Isaak J. Liptzin, hosted by filmmaker Anton Evangelista; and “Saving Southern Italy” with filmmaker Valarie D’Elia and producer Lydia Cannito.

Italian wine and beer will be available at The Picture House throughout the weekend.

Cinema, Italian Style

What: Westchester Italian Film Festival

When: April 21–23

● Where: The Picture House Pelham, 175 Wolfs Lane, Pelham; and The Picture House Bronxville, 84 Kraft Ave., Bronxville. 

Opening night: Screening of Will Nunziata’s short film “The Old Guitarist,” followed by a Q&A. Nunziata will present Dominic Chianese, the film’s star, with The Picture House Lifetime Achievement Award.

Tickets/information: Visit thepicturehouse.org,send email to info@thepicturehouse.org, or call 914-738-3161.

Robert Brum is a freelance journalist who writes about the Hudson Valley. Contact him and read his work at robertbrum.com.