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  • Once We Were Strangers (1997)
  • 96 min | Comedy, Romance
Once We Were Strangers (1997)
96 min | Comedy, Romance

Antonio is a seductive, charismatic Sicilian living illegally in New York. He wanders from job to job, lives as a squatter and enjoys a carefree romantic tryst with a wealthy art dealer. When he falls in love with Ellen, a strong-willed ...See moreAntonio is a seductive, charismatic Sicilian living illegally in New York. He wanders from job to job, lives as a squatter and enjoys a carefree romantic tryst with a wealthy art dealer. When he falls in love with Ellen, a strong-willed radio talk-show host who is set to move to Paris within a few days, he decides he must find a way to keep her from leaving. Meanwhile, Antonio's friend Apu faces a love challenge of his own. Apu is a young Indian-turned-New Yorker who was sent from his homeland with his family's life savings to find the American dream of success and fulfillment. He works hard at odds jobs-- from being a guinea pig in a drug-testing lab to dubbing porno films. Then his life is completely uprooted on the day his pre-arranged wife from India arrives in New York--the woman chosen by their families when they were children, one he hasn't seen since he was 8 and she was 4. Apu is caught between the old world and the new--trying to find love and happiness within the confines of his pre-determined destiny. The film is about what happens when cultures clash--about expectations and reality, dreams of love and money, and life when the timing is way off. Written by See less
Read more: Plot summary
Producers
John P. Adams (as John P. Scholz) | Emanuele Crialese
Composer
Cinematographer
Editor
Casting Director
Production Designer
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Status
Edit Released
Updated Aug 29, 1997

Release date
Jan 1998 (United States)

Contacts

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Cast

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45 cast members
Name Known for
Vincenzo Amato
Antonio Antonio   See fewer
Lynn Cohen
Natasha Natasha   See fewer
Lázaro Pérez
Homeless Man (as Lazaro Perez) Homeless Man (as Lazaro Perez)   See fewer
Adrián Witzke
Todd (as Adrian Witzke) Todd (as Adrian Witzke)   See fewer
Seamus McNally
Photographer / Bar Creep Photographer / Bar Creep   See fewer
Alisha McKinney
Supermarket Cashier Supermarket Cashier   See fewer
Ostaro
Porn Shop Owner Porn Shop Owner   See fewer
Lou George
Building Security Building Security   See fewer
Robert Gourp
Porn Director Porn Director   See fewer
James Reno
Immigration Officer Immigration Officer   See fewer
Alberto Novelli
Silent Immigration Officer Silent Immigration Officer   See fewer
Toni Pisano
Store Owner Store Owner   See fewer
Santos Morales
Superintendant Superintendant   See fewer
Ray Zorhed
Cyberpunk at Bar Cyberpunk at Bar   See fewer
Nicholas Evans
Musician at Bar Musician at Bar   See fewer
Alfred Padilla
Puerto Rican Recording Artist Puerto Rican Recording Artist   See fewer
Marius Biegai
German Recording Artist (as Marius Biegaj) German Recording Artist (as Marius Biegaj)   See fewer
Caroline Bornant
French Recording Artist French Recording Artist   See fewer
Ken Webb
Waiter Waiter   See fewer
Aysha Quinn
Portrait Painter Portrait Painter   See fewer
Vanna Marino Colella
Portrait Painter Portrait Painter   See fewer
Ann Bloch
Portrait Painter Portrait Painter   See fewer
Daphne Gaines
Airline Agent Airline Agent   See fewer
Pietro González
Cook (as Pietro Gonzalez) Cook (as Pietro Gonzalez)   See fewer
Gary Dennis
Restaurant Manager Restaurant Manager   See fewer
Ed Clarkson-Farrell
City Hall Clerk City Hall Clerk   See fewer
Ronald Cohen
Bar Customer Bar Customer   See fewer
Mariano Franzese
Bar Kissing Customer Bar Kissing Customer   See fewer
Simi
Bar Kissing Customer Bar Kissing Customer   See fewer
Robert Laws
Hotel / Casino Receptionist Hotel / Casino Receptionist   See fewer
Mohinder Singh
Cab Driver Cab Driver   See fewer
Chandana Sikund
Indian Girl in Laundromat Indian Girl in Laundromat   See fewer
Christine Robert
Woman in Laundromat Woman in Laundromat   See fewer
Linda Moran
Woman with Dog Woman with Dog   See fewer
Paolo Battisti
Mystery Man at Bar Mystery Man at Bar   See fewer
Cecilia Dazzi
City Hall Witness City Hall Witness   See fewer
Santos Morales
Superintendent (credit only) (as Santos) Superintendent (credit only) (as Santos)   See fewer
Ken Webb
Waiter Waiter   See fewer
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