Pane Amaro (Bitter Bread) - The Italian Immigration

The first comprehensive depiction on film of the Italian American experience.  The result of over four years of research, the film traces the social, economic, and political transformation of Italians from immigrant victims of violence and prejudice to prominent members of the American society.

The story is told by weaving together personal accounts with comments by scholars, and using a treasure trove of historical photographs and footage.  The Italian version of the  film, broadcast nationally by RAI-Italian Television in 2007, received wide critical acclaim and the Italian newspaper La Stampa called Pane Amaro “…an investigation into our past that is more compelling than a feature film.”

The title of the film comes from a popular Neapolitan song of the early 1900s which spoke of the immigrants’ pain at being separated from home and family.

Directed and produced by Gianfranco Norelli
Co-Producer Suma Kurien