Ciao Bella (TV series)

Ciao Bella (Italian for "Hello and/or Goodbye beautiful") is a Canadian television sitcom that debuted on CBC Television in the 2004–05 television season.[1]

Ciao Bella
Created bySteve Galluccio
Émile Gaudreault
StarringClaudia Ferri
Ellen David
Tony Calabretta
Jessica Heafey
Country of originCanada
No. of episodes13
Production
Running time30 minutes
Release
Original networkCBC Television (English)
Télévision de Radio-Canada (French)
Original release2004 (2004) –
2005 (2005)

Set in Montreal, Quebec, the series centres on Elena Battista (Claudia Ferri), a young, single Italian-Canadian woman whose desire for a modern lifestyle conflicts with the traditional values of her family.[2] In the season premiere, she is hit by a bus on the way to the florist to exchange a corsage on her sister's wedding day. In the ensuing coma, she promises God that if she is allowed to live, she will take advantage of her life and live it on her own terms instead of letting her family run it for her.[3]

Steve Galluccio, who created the series, explored similar themes in the theatrical play Mambo Italiano.[4] Ferri appeared in the film adaptation of that play as a different character.

Each episode was filmed twice, in both English and French, with no dubbing.[1] The French version aired on Télévision de Radio-Canada.[5]

Cast
  • Claudia Ferri as Elena Batista
  • Ellen David as Sophia Batista
  • Tony Calabretta as Edwardo Batista
  • Jessica Heafey as Carmie Batista
  • Peter Miller as Elio Lanza
  • Carl Alacchi as Uncle Nunzio
  • Dorothée Berryman as Theresa Lanza
  • Louis Philippe Dandenault as Ernie
  • Johnny Falcone as Maurizio

References
  1. Brendan Kelly, "Crossing the language line". Montreal Gazette, September 13, 2004.
  2. Gaetan Charlebois, "A slice of Italy, Canada style". Montreal Gazette, September 11, 2004.
  3. "Ciao Bella not the same: It's similar to Greek Wedding but more like Mambo Italiano". Chatham Daily News, October 12, 2004.
  4. Brendan Kelly, "Ciao Bella's no Mambo". Montreal Gazette, November 3, 2003.
  5. Alex Strachan, "Italian-Canadian comedy mixes family farce, tragedy". Calgary Herald, October 13, 2004.


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