| Bruno | |
|---|---|
 The Dress Code VHS cover | |
| Directed by | Shirley MacLaine |
| Written by | David Ciminello |
| Produced by | David Kirkpatrick |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Jan Kiesser |
| Edited by | Bonnie Koehler |
| Music by | Chris Boardman |
| Distributed by | New Angel Films (theatrical) Starz (TV) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 108 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | USD $10 million |
Bruno (released asThe Dress Code on DVD and VHS) is a 2000 Americancomedy film starringAlex D. Linz andShirley MacLaine. The film is the first and, as of 2024, the only film ever directed by MacLaine (barring her 1975 documentary feature).[1][2]
Distributed by New Angel Inc.,Bruno premiered at the 2000Los Angeles Film Festival in a limited theatrical release. From there, the film was distributed straight tocable television and rights to it were acquired byStarz.[1][2]
Bruno Battaglia is a young boy attending an AmericanRoman Catholic school. Bruno's estranged father Dino, a police officer, left the family long ago and Bruno lives with his mother Angela. Angela is overweight and dresses flamboyantly in outfits that she designs and makes herself, standing out in stark contrast to the rest of their conservativeItalian American neighborhood.
While competing in advancing levels of the Catholic schoolspelling bee, Bruno decides to start wearing dresses. He wears them as a source of empowerment as well as feeling the need to express himself. He often identifies withangels and, when challenged that he can't wear a dress to the spelling bee championship inVatican City, Bruno points out that even thePope wears a dress. For his choice in outfits, Bruno receives heavy criticism from fellow students and faculty, especially the school's Mother Superior as well as becoming a target of the school's bullies. Initially supported only by his best friend Shawniqua, as he progresses further in the spelling competition, his choices of self-expression eventually become accepted by his peers and his superiors. Bruno wins the spelling bee competition and meets the Pope. With the help of his grandmother, Helen, Bruno also begins to form a bond with Dino who, in turn, is inspired by his son to pursue his long abandoned childhood dream of becoming an opera singer, despite previously being unwilling to accept his son, even leaving the room before Bruno sings in a dress.
Onreview aggregator websiteRotten Tomatoes the film has a score of 20% based on reviews from 5 critics, with anaverage rating of 3.9/10.[3]
Lael Loewenstein ofVariety wrote "It seems especially apt that Shirley MacLaine, a high priestess of self-expression, should make her feature directing debut with a film about a child's quest for individuality. With "Bruno," MacLaine achieves a mixed success. Her name, promo skills and high-profile cast would seem to assure pic theatrical visibility, albeit likely in niche markets".[4]