The Dress Code (VHS, 2001)

This film goes by the name, "Bruno," on HBO, Starz, Showtime & Cinemax channels. As far as I know it's director, Shirley MacLaine, was not able to find a theater distributor for her film, so it was released first on Starz. That drew a much larger viewing audience than it would have in theaters (tens of millions to start with)!

This is a terrific film for everyone to view. It needs to be owned because it is so multi-layered that seeing it once isn't enough to truly enjoy all of the comedy MacLaine packs into a film. It focuses upon a child's spirituality triumphing over the violence of Catholic school playground bullying. But, it's really much more involved than that.

Bruno Battaglio (Alex D. Lintz) is the bullied 8yo who is also bright beyond his years. Most of the adults around him, including the nuns, are utterly dysfunctional. MacLaine herself plays Bruno's butch grandmother--a role I've never seen her do before--butch that is. (Is there any role MacLaine cannot do well?). She casts herself perfectly well in this one. Which, while directing is supposed to be difficult to achieve. Imagine her in a boxing ring, suited up, to teach her bullied grandson how to defend himself.

Bruno's had a dream during which an angel appeared who left him inspired--to wear a Roman toga, his mother's wig & other girlish dresses because he considers them holy vestments with magical powers. Kathy Bates plays a tested Mother Superior at Bruno's Catholic school. No one but Bruno's way obese mother, Angela (Stacey Halprin), understands why the boy is bent upon wearing what everyone else only sees as "girls clothes." Most especially, Bruno's estranged father, Dino (Gary Sinese), who violently objects & rejects the boy's choice of clothes.

I get angry when this film is described as a story about a boy cross-dressing in girl's clothing because that misses the point entirely. Bruno isn't trying to be a girl at all. He has no desire to be. He believes what he's been taught & what he's also observed as a Catholic-raised child: holy men with special powers, like Priests & the Pope, wear long flowing dresses! Bruno wants to be like those men & like the angels he's seen depicted in pictures, cemetary statuettes & even in his dreams.

The story is full of morals about violence, spirituality, taking education seriously, the importance of families sticking together, how much children can teach adults, how parents can redeem themselves as grandparents & much more.

It's a dramedy (dramatic comedy). MacLaine had to be a genius as a director to have so many children performing so well amidst major talents like Kathy Bates (& MacLaine herself). The cast is 1 of the best in modern films of this genre. Especially Alex D. Lintz, who is engrossing playing the title role as Bruno. Stacy Halprin gives a remarkable performance as Bruno's mother. She's not a veteran actor who was in numerous scenes with Oscar-winning ones.

MacLaine makes artful use of what would've been typical credits to punctuate the film's main messages. So, the film's not over until the very last credit that Alex D. Lintz narrates. In fact, I believe they are the most important words. My best scene pick is between MacLaine & Lintz when Bruno tells his grandmother he's not afraid of death, after she asks if he's aware that the other boys will kill him for dressing the way he does. Her facial expression is priceless. MacLaine is terrific with kids! Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant!~