A Bronx Tale (1993)

A Bronx Tale is a gritty, emotional coming-of-age drama set in the Bronx in the 1960s. After nine-year-old Calogero (nicknamed C) witnesses a street murder, he forms a complicated, lasting bond with Sonny, the charismatic local mob boss who becomes a mentor and protector. Calogero’s father, Lorenzo, a hardworking bus driver, insists on an honest life and fiercely opposes his son’s attraction to the glamour and danger of the neighborhood’s criminal scene. For years C is pulled between two very different educations—his father’s moral code and Sonny’s streetwise rules—and the tensions only deepen as he grows into adolescence. Viewers will experience an intimate portrait of family loyalty, temptation, and the consequences of choices. The film balances warmth and toughness: moments of humor and father-son tenderness sit alongside racial conflict, violent confrontations, and the sting of betrayal. Calogero’s first love for an African American girl and the neighborhood’s simmering racial tensions force him to confront what kind of man he wants to become. Tone and atmosphere are rooted in period detail and neighborhood life—boisterous, protective, and often dangerous—while the storytelling emphasizes moral lessons and the high cost of life on the streets. Expect a character-driven, character-rich story that’s as much about identity and conscience as it is about crime. Overall, A Bronx Tale delivers a moving, morally complex ride: a poignant coming-of-age tale that challenges viewers to weigh loyalty, honor, and the long-term consequences of the paths we choose.

Actors: Robert De Niro, Chazz Palminteri, Lillo Brancato

Director: Robert De Niro

Runtime: 121 min

Genres: Crime, Drama

7.8 /10 80 /100 7.8 /10 7.9 /10