Brooklyn Lobster (2006)

Synopsis: Frank Giorgio's once orderly life has been thrown into chaos since the bank that loaned him money for a restaurant addition to his lobster business has folded. With the threat of a public auction looming, the very proud and stubborn Frank, played by Danny Aiello (Moonstruck, Do the Right... Frank Giorgio's once orderly life has been thrown into chaos since the bank that loaned him money for a restaurant addition to his lobster business has folded. With the threat of a public auction looming, the very proud and stubborn Frank, played by Danny Aiello (Moonstruck, Do the Right Thing), his family and eccentric crew attempt to save the Brooklyn lobster shop that is the cornerstone of their identity. Frank's son Michael (Daniel Sauli, The Pink Panther, Boiler Room), who has chosen a much different life for himself in the tech world of Seattle, and his girl friend Kerry (Heather Burns, Bewitched, Miss Congeniality 2) return home for Christmas and, for better or worse, are dragged into the family drama that unfolds. Michael's childhood home has been sold, and his mother Maureen (Jane Curtin, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Saturday Night Live) is separating from Frank. Over the course of two extraordinary weeks, he finds himself sleeping on a pull-out couch with his dad, catching wandering lobster crates in the bay and trying to mend his relationship with Kerry in a gaudy Russian motel. While Michael joins the sometimes humorous Lobster Farm rescue efforts, Maureen is trying to keep her distance, staying with her daughter Lauren (Marisa Ryan, Riding in Cars with Boys), son-in-law Just in (Ian Kahn, Dawson's Creek) and baby granddaughter as she looks for a place to live and establish her own identity-apart from the lobster business that has consumed her life, her house and her husband. Lauren, who has stood by her father working at the Lobster Farm, strives to keep the lines of communication open while the family struggles to hold it together despite the imminent threat to their business. This sincere, down-to-earth drama explores the complexities and inherent comedy of family dynamics. As the final auction approaches, Frank and Michael are forced to look within themselves and the heritage that has shaped them both. For Michael, that means acknowledging the traits he shares with his father and not al lowing himself to repeat the same mistakes. For Frank, it's a matter of letting go and opening himself up to the family and friends who might just provide the lifeline he so desperately needs. --© Red Claw Productions [More]