By Laurie Baron
SAN DIEGO-If you saw the trailer for John Turturro’s Fading Gigolo, you probably have the impression that it is primarily a raunchy comedy about how an older man persuades his middle aged protégé to be a gigolo for two women who are seeking a ménage à trois. Actually, that plotline serves as a setup for a sweet story about a platonic romance between two characters craving affectionate attention rather than raw sexuality.
Woody Allen plays Murray Schwartz, the owner of a used bookstore that is going out of business. He must lay off Turturro’s Fioravante whom he has employed for many years, but comes up with an idea for both of them to earn extra money. His physician confided to him that she is bored with her husband and is seeking a threesome with another man and her best female friend. Murray coaxes Fioravante to have sex with Dr. Parker who is played by Sharon Stone to test whether he would be desirable partner for her and the sultry Selima played by Sofia Vergara. Of course they relish this passionate stranger who brings them bouquets that he arranges for his other job as a florist.
In the meantime Murray takes one of his nephews, a child of the African American woman he lives with, to have lice removed from his hair by a Satmar widow named Avigal played by French actress Vanessa Paradis He strikes up a conversation with her and realizes how lonely she is. Trying to expand Fioravante’s client base, he recommends that Avigal see a professional who can help her cope with her feelings of isolation. Avigal thinks Fioravante is a Sephardic masseuse. He initially respects her modesty by massaging her over her undergarments. Attracted by the tenderness of his touch and the sincerity of his compassion―neither of which her deceased husband possessed―she finds herself falling in love with him, as he with her. This soulful relationship is at the heart of the film.
Avigal is also being wooed by Dovi, a member of the neighborhood Shomrim played by Liev Schreiber. Jealous of Avigal’s secret trysts, he tracks her down and hauls Fioravante off to appear before a Bet Din for seducing her. Though the movie is sprinkled with humorous comments by Murray, the funniest scene features Bob Balaban as Murray’s lawyer remembering whatever he can of his yeshiva education to defend Fioravante against his rabbinic accusers.
All of this could easily degenerate into farcical stereotyping, but Turturro focuses on the sympathetic qualities of Avigal, Dovi, and Fioravante. He does not dismiss the meaning religion and tradition provide to Avigal and Dovi. Even Murray is closer in spirit to Alvy Singer than to the cynical and lecherous Harry Block. Turturro emulates much of Allen’s signature cinematography, dialogue, idealized scenes of New York, and use of background music. Fading Gigolo is by no means a great movie, but it is an endearing one.
Postscript: I want to urge you to see Finding Vivian Maier. This engrossing documentary traces the quest of director John Maloof to learn about the life of the enigmatic nanny whose photographic portraits of Chicago street people he purchased at an auction. Due to his efforts, Maier is gaining the recognition as a gifted and original artist which she shunned while she was alive. Although the movie is no longer playing at the La Jolla Village Cinemas, it is available on the On-Demand channel from your cable TV provider.
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Baron is professor emeritus of history at San Diego State University. He may be contacted via lawrence.baron@sdjewishworld.com