Michelle Danner directs and stars in The Italians, a film deeply rooted in her heart and heritage. Reflecting on her upbringing, Michelle shares, “There was a lot of love in my Italian family—but whenever we sat down for dinner, we never quite knew when the pasta was going to fly… but we knew we could count on it.”
That sentiment runs through much of the film, which centers around the chaos and catharsis of Sunday family dinners—where secrets spill and grievances come to light. Michelle plays Angelina, the strong-willed matriarch of the Vitali family, who is deeply entwined in the life of her only son, Nico (played by Matthew Daddario). Angelina is stunned to learn Nico has been dating Lily (Abigail Breslin) for nine months—and she’s only just finding out.
“Her only son is her pride and joy,” Michelle explains. “She prides herself on knowing everything that goes on in his life. There’s a great scene where Nico brings the girl over for dinner, and he caters to her more than to my character. I think there’s a moment every mother experiences—that realization they’re losing their son to another woman. It’s painful.”
Directing The Italians while also taking on the lead role wasn’t just a creative challenge—it was personal. Many of Michelle’s family members worked on set, and the script by Lisa Visca resonated deeply. “I wanted to tell this story because I felt so close to the character,” she shares. “Angelina is an amalgamation of my mother, my grandmother, my great-grandmother, my sisters… all of them.”
One scene in particular, shared with Lainie Kazan near the end of the film, stands out to Michelle as especially meaningful. “It’s a scene about forgiveness. I conjured my mother’s spirit for it, and Lainie and I had such natural chemistry—she made me feel something. After our last take, my son, who was watching on the monitor, came over with tears in his eyes and his hand over his heart. That was the moment. No words—just a silent, powerful moment.”
While The Italians leans into Italian family stereotypes and broad characters, it still manages to strike an emotional chord, especially with its touching, heartfelt ending.
Michelle’s pitch for the film? “You’ll laugh. You might cry a little. But you’ll be moved. You’ll recognize yourself—even if you’re not Italian—because families are universal. And it’s going to make you hungry.”
The Italians is now streaming on Amazon Prime and will be available on additional platforms this fall. The film also stars Rob Estes, Perrey Reeves, and David DeLuise.
This article was published in our July 2025 issue.
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Sandy Lo is an author, blogger, journalist, and digital strategist. Her personal story is inspiring. Sandy started StarShine Magazine, an online publication in 2001, at the age of 18. She wrote her first novel in 2009, “Lost In You,” followed by the “Dream Catchers” Series. She was the first person ever to professionally interview Taylor Swift and has received personal endorsements for her books from members of boy bands Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees.
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