synopsis

What is an immigrant's typical experience in America? How does he envision the American Dream, how does he strive towards its promise of a better life for himself and his children? What does he sacrifice, and what does he gain?

PIZZA SHOP introduces us to Charlie and Fred Osso, immigrant brothers from Calabria, Italy, who have run a successful pizzeria and restaurant in a strip mall in northern New Jersey for nearly forty years. Emigrating from impoverished post-war Italy with a rudimentary elementary-school education, they had little chance for advancement. Through hard work, resilience, and the opportunities provided in the U.S., they've thrived. 

Now in their seventies, they’re facing a forced relocation, construction of a new restaurant, their sons’ attempts to update the management style, and encroaching old age. But retirement is a dirty word to these workhorses: Charlie is serious and detail-oriented, with a short fuse and a soft center, while Fred is light-hearted and easy-going, a passionate chef and bon vivant. 

With humor and compassion, filmmaker Antony Osso explores how a Mom-and-Pop shop can be a vital hub for a community, the sacrifices parents make for their children, and what it means for immigrants when they live out the American dream.
 

OSSOFILMS PRESENTS
"PIZZA SHOP: AN ITALIAN-AMERICAN DREAM"
MUSIC BY ERIC V. HACHIKIAN  EDITED BY NICOLAS CUELLAR  
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY MARTINA RADWAN
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS CARMINE OSSO FIORE OSSO RICK OSSO  PRODUCED BY LAURA NESPOLA ANTONY OSSO
DIRECTED BY ANTONY OSSO