Director: Kevin JordanWhen the bank defaults on the loan that lobster farm owner Frank Giorgio (Danny Aiello) took out to add a restaurant on to his business, the farm that’s been his family for generations is forced into public auction. Presented by Martin Scorsese, this intimate character-driven indie, based on a true story, emphasizes themes of family duty and neighborhood loyalty as Giorgio’s son Michael (Daniel Sauli) returns home for Christmas with his girlfriend in tow, only to find himself in the middle of the situation. Michael quickly learns that his entire family is at a crossroads with mother Maureen (Jane Curtin) who, separated from Frank and living with her daughter’s family, decides she wants to get an apartment of her own, adding even more conflict to the business situation. While not as plot-heavy as most traditional contemporary films, Brooklyn Lobster feels like witnessing life unfolding and it’s a fine New York story that small business owners-- who are without a doubt the backbone of this country-- will definitely appreciate as Aiello’s stubborn and albeit flawed but proud man does everything in his power not to franchise his ancestral legacy, borrow from shady investors or lose his business in the name of his family.
