(JERSEY CITY, NJ) -- Five-Finger Discount: A Crooked Family History, will have its theatrical debut at Landmark Loew's Theater in Jersey City on Friday, October 6 at 7:00pm. Based on Helen Stapinski’s blockbuster memoir of the same title, the Five-Finger Discount documentary premiered on public television in 2017. The film relates Helene’s saga of growing up in Jersey City, New Jersey, in a family nearly overrun with crooks, corrupt politicians, mobster wannabes and murderers. It takes the viewer inside Helene’s struggle to confront her family legacy and invent a new identity – without losing where she comes from and the people she loves.
Using photos, footage and period music, Five-Finger Discount showcases Jersey City as it was during the 40-year reign of Frank “I Am The Law” Hague – the poster child for urban political corruption. The Loew’s audience will also see the city as it is today – a new urban haven for young professionals and their families. Local enthusiasm for the city and for the documentary was high; the film was financed by a multitude of Jersey City residents through a Kickstarter campaign, as well as through generous underwriting.
According to Stapinski: “I grew up and my parents and whole family grew up going to movies at the Loew’s Palace, so getting to see our own documentary screen there at the Golden Door Festival is an incredible thrill and honor. My mom told me that when she was a little girl she would stop and say ‘This should be a movie up on the screen.’ That’s how dramatic her childhood was. And now it is. She can’t wait to come to the screening!”
Five-Finger Discount: A Crooked Family History was written and directed by award-winning documentarian Steven Fischler with additional writing by Stapinski and executive producer Rosanne Braun. It was co-produced by Fischler and Braun, with cinematography and editing by John Miglietta. Charles Hobson, President of Vanguard Documentaries, executive produced the film. A Q&A will follow the October 6th screening with the filmmakers.
Stapinski is the author of three memoirs: Murder in Matera: A True Story of Passion, Family and Forgiveness in Southern Italy; Five-Finger Discount: A Crooked Family History, and Baby Plays Around. Her essays have appeared in several anthologies, most recently, Drinking Diaries: Women Serve Their Stories Straight Up. Stapinski has also written extensively for The New York Times, for Travel & Leisure, Food & Wine, Salon, Real Simple, New York magazine and dozens of other newspapers, magazines and blogs. She’s been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered, The Today Show and as a performer with The Moth main stage. Stapinski has taught journalism and creative writing at Fordham and New York University, her alma mater, and has lectured at Columbia University, where she received an MFA.
The Landmark Loew's Theater is located at 54 Journal Square Plaza, Jersey City, New Jersey.
