Big Night

Q: Describe the relationship between the two brothers and their situation as first-generation Italian immigrants.

Primo and Secondo are not American nor Italian. They exist somewhere in between. Yes, their roots are from Italy, but with the American exposure they have become caught between the two worlds which is the premise of the entire movie. Brotherhood is an unbreakable bond, but because Primo and Secondo went on the American journey together, there is an even closer tie between them. Their downfall is how they perceive their time in America.

Secondo understands the business and faces the bills, debts, and clients right in the face, while Primo is behind the scenes cooking up his food, which he sees more as art. This is shows though Primo always accepting art pieces in exchange for his meals- an equal trade. This infuriates Primo. The business is dying and Americans are not Italians, so they do not understand true Italian masterpieces Primo makes.




Primo and Secondo also have the same dream, but Secondo is willing to sacrifice his Italian heritage by serving risotto with spaghetti in order to have the American dream, and Secondo wants to stick to his pure Italian cooking, feeling it is betraying his kind. This is the struggle of being first generation immigrants. Adapt somehow or getting booted out. Which is what happened to each brother. in the end, Primo walked off with Anne and Secondo lost both of his girls (as he should- scum!)

Secondo may be absolute garbage after cheating on his girlfriend, but it has great symbolism. It shows Secondo's struggle to choose the American lifestyle. He is dating an American, but refuses to settle down with her, because he is still holding on to his Italian roots. By loosing both girl by the end, it shows Secondo is now fully changed into the Italian American. He does not need the girls to show that he is both.



Primo on the other hand, refuses to change himself, but he does accept American culture in another way, though Anne. He finally has the American audience he wants to eat his food. Anne is quiet and eager to learn in which Primo's character arc goes full circle and he does become successful, but not in the restaurant business, but in love.



Even though the brothers part at the end, they both are able to come together in the morning, put the fight behind them and eat. Showing their bond will never break.