Film on Italian immigrants brings Hollywood to Millbrook

MILLBROOK — There were tears, laughter and a strong sense of nostalgia during the 35-minute screening of “Il Villaggio di Millbrook,” at the end, long and enthusiastic applause. The film was touching, and for many it brought back memories of their childhood and of loved ones who are no longer living. 

Shown in the auditorium of Millbrook High School on Saturday, Nov. 18, to a packed house, it was the story of the Italian immigrants who came to Millbrook to work on the mansions of the rich and stayed to plant roots of their own, becoming an integral part of the Millbrook community.

The documentary was the brainchild of Barbara Pierce, who, along with Village Historian David Greenwood and several others, worked from 2012 to 2014 on Millbrook’s Museum in the Streets project. Millbrook is home to the first American installation of a Museum in the Streets, which is a self-guided tour with plaques in both English and Italian that tell the history of the village — a nod to the heritage of many of the Italian families that came to Millbrook at the turn of the last century.

Pierce realized, in talking to mainly elderly residents of Italian heritage, that few of their stories were on record. She felt the need to get the stories on tape. Connecting with her nephew, Robert Hixon Hanson, who has a degree in cinematic arts and is president of Beartooth Productions, she convinced him to work on producing “Il Villaggio di Millbrook.” It took two summers of filming and many long hours of editing, but the finished product is a testament to the love and respect that went into the production.

The backdrop of the film is the village of Millbrook in summertime; the actors are Italian descendants who came to the village more than 100 years ago to build the mansions of millionaires and to build homes for themselves and their families, forming roots in a new country while never forgetting where they came from.

Many of the early immigrants didn’t want their children speaking Italian, but they honored the rest of their heritage, their customs, their food, their close family ties. They also remained faithful to their Roman Catholic religion, and many remember Sunday mass at St. Joseph’s Church. Many also attended St. Joseph’s School, which only closed a few years ago.

An opening scene used a quote from Marcus Lee Hanson, “What the son wishes to forget the grandson wishes to remember.”

The stories are told by many Millbrook residents, stories that are touching, funny, wistful and recount a simpler time.

Skip Ciferri does a masterful job of storytelling, showing places where as a young boy he played baseball on Church Street with his friends and relatives. He takes the audience through Flagler Garden, and there is a picture of his father’s crew sitting on a stone wall they were building.

Altogether, there were 15 interviews. Rita and Teresa Rotunno talked about their grandmother’s business, Charlotte’s Dress Shop. They mentioned some of the customers she served, and said that for many years she did custom dress making and millinery, as well as sold off the rack dresses. Both women remember taking dance and other classes at Bennett College, although they were not Bennett College students. 

Al DeBonis described delivering pizzas to Bennett College, where the two-year program hosted lots of young ladies who loved to see him drive up in his sports car to make the delivery for his uncle’s pizza shop.

Monsignor Gerardo Colacicco, of St. Joseph’s Church, spoke of the immigrants’ assimilation to the church, and how their faith and their belief in the church kept their culture alive.

Dora Ialongo spoke of the closeness of family, and how she’s tried to instill the importance of Sunday family dinners in her nephews.

More than one person mentioned the Willis house, and the African American family who lived there. They learned Italian, and were a part of the mostly Italian neighborhood.

John Dyson, of Millbrook Vineyards, discussed the past and mentioned that many of the young boys in those early days were caddies at the Golf and Tennis Club. They caddied for many of the most prominent people in Millbrook and made many important connections. They also learned to play golf, and many of them grew up to become members of the club; a few went on to win championships.

And there were other stories. Those interviewed appeared relaxed, sincere and seemed happy to share the experiences they’d had growing up in Millbrook as patriotic Americans proud of their Italian heritage. Many have been to the parts of Italy where their ancestors hailed from.

The program was introduced by producer Pierce, who recounted how she had gotten to know her nephew through working on this documentary. She said she is immensely proud of Hanson and their documentary. Beartooth Productions expects to enter “Il Villaggio di Millbrook” in several documentary film festivals.

Skip Ciferri, Kathe and John Dyson, David and Nan Greenwood and Pierce executive produced the film, which was shown again on Sunday, Nov. 19, at The Moviehouse in Millerton.