Oy Vey! My Son Is Gay!! is a 2009 comedy film directed, co-written, and produced by Evgeny Afineevsky and starring Lainie Kazan, Saul Rubinek, Vincent Pastore, John Lloyd Young, Jai Rodriguez, Bruce Vilanch, Fred Swink and Carmen Electra. The theme song, "The Word Is Love" was written by Desmond Child and performed by Lulu. "The Word is Love" was contending for nominations in the Original Song category for the 82nd Academy Awards.
The film concerns an interfaith relationship. An adult Jewish man comes out to his parents as gay. They try to come to terms to it, but are displeased that their son's boyfriend is not Jewish.
Contents
Plot
Twenty-five year old real estate agent Nelson Hirsch is having problems telling his overbearing Jewish parents—Martin and Shirley Hirsch—that he is gay, let alone in a loving relationship, not only with a man, Angelo Ferraro, but a non-Jewish one. However, he and Angelo have made a time sensitive pact to tell their respective parents about their relationship. It becomes even more complicated as, out of circumstance, Nelson discovers that his mother—and thus by association his father—believe the new significant other in his life is not Angelo, who they assume is solely his decorator, but rather Nelson and Angelo's neighbor, Playpen Playmate of the month, Sybil Williams. That complication is exacerbated by the fact that his mom will only hear and see what she wants to, which in this situation is coming to terms with Nelson being in love with a shiksa who takes her clothes off in public.
When Nelson is finally able to tell his parents the truth, Martin and Shirley (who have their own slightly different preconceived notions about homosexuality), have to find a way to come to terms with it. The couple are concerned about how their friends and relatives will react; they are especially concerned about Martin's macho employer, his Uncle Moisha, and Shirley's brother and sister-in-law, Max and Sophie.
It is difficult relating to Angelo's Italian parents, Carmine and Terry Ferraro, who have their own issues in dealing with Angelo and Nelson's relationship. Nelson and Angelo's time-sensitive issue advances their relationship to the next level, with the potential to turn the world of this collective group further on its head.
Cast
Lainie Kazan as Shirley Hirsch
Saul Rubinek as Martin Hirsch
Vincent Pastore as Carmine Ferraro
John Lloyd Young as Nelson Hirsch
Jai Rodriguez as Angelo Ferraro
Bruce Vilanch as Uncle Max
Carmen Electra as Sybil Williams
Shelly Burch as Teresa Ferraro
Stanislav 'Slava' Medvedenko as Russian Host (credited as Slava Medvedenko)
Alexandra Mamaliger as Andrea Hirsch (credited as Alex Mamaliger)
Eddie Levi Lee as Moisha
Kyle Deluca as Anthony Ferraro
Heiko Obermöller as Nudelman
Awards
Official Selection 26th annual Boston LGBT Film Fest 2010
Charlotte Gay & Lesbian Film Festival 2010
Festival Special Award
Official Selection Filmfest Hamburg 2010
FilmOut 2010
Best Actress in a Feature Film – Lainie Kazan
Best Direction – Evgeny Afineevsky
Best Narrative Feature - Evgeny Afineevsky / Svetlana Anufrieva
Best Actor in a Supporting Role – Saul Rubinek
Freedom Award – Ensemble Cast in a Feature Film
Fire Island Pines International Film Festival 2009
Spotlight Award - Evgeny Afineevsky
Fort Worth Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival 2010
Rising Star Award – Evgeny Afineevsky
13 Annual Jewish Film Festival In Miami 2010
Audience Award for Best Feature Film
LesGaiCineMad – Madrid International LGTB Film Festival 2010
Special PUBLICO Award LesGaiCineFamilia (Special Audience Award LesGaiCineFamilia)
24th Festival Mix Milano 2010