Mob Queen

Running time: N/A

Director Jon Carnoy may have grown up in Palo Alto, but he sure knows Brooklyn in the O-50s: the turf of Mafia Don Joey ''The Heart'' Aorta. When Joey's key advisor meets with a tragic death, opportunity knocks for a devoted lackey named George. To buy the Don's favor, George gets him a date with Glorice, a tall, attractive prostitute with incredible oral skills. The gambit works as Don Joey falls head over heels for the tough and ballsy Glorice. All is rosy until George discovers that Glorice is not quite the woman he thought. George knows his life will end once the Don realizes exactly how ''ballsy'' she really is. This sly and often hilarious film is a dead-on satire about love blooming under the strangest of circumstances. All the usual Mob characters are given a fresh interpretation: full of street credibility but surprisingly affectionate. The acting is as smooth as a dry martini as each actor wears his role like a comfortable pair of shoes. Add this to the superb tech credits, and you have one of the true discoveries of this year's festival. --Ken Karn