The pride of the Italian Mafia lies in their loyalty. It is for this virtue; they prefer family members to join their pool. For them, blood is thicker than water. Members of the organization look after their children and the children of other family members. It’s a well-knit circuit of care and allegiance. The Birthday Cake follows a young Gio who receives the utmost care from his Mafia uncle. But ten years later, Gio discovered some riveting mysteries about his extended family that made him question his loyalty.
Directed by debut director Jimmy Giannopoulos, The Birthday Cake is a gripping crime thriller that follows a single protagonist and his journey through a fateful night. If it is true that a night could change your life forever, then this film is the right fit.
Plot Summary
10 years ago, the father of a young Italian-American, Giovanni “Gio”, was found strangled to death in the trunk of his Cadillac. A confused and scared Gio turned to his uncle Angelo for care and comfort. But little did he know that his mafia family and all of its traditions will hurt him even more.
Ten years later, on his father’s 10th death anniversary, Gio’s mother prepares a chocolate cake per the traditions. Every year, Gio brings the cake to his Uncle Angelo’s house to remember his father’s departure and birthday. Gio leaves the house with the cake but is suddenly stopped by two undercover cops inquiring about his beloved cousin, Leo.
According to Gio, Leo was pulled over by cops in New Jersey. They found five kilos of heroin in his trunk. The FBI took the case. Leo was released, but he went underground and asked Gio to buy him some time to figure out things.
On a single night, Gio finds out that too many people are hunting down his cousin, Leo. The FBI isn’t the only one. The chase soon becomes violent and messy, with Gio at the center of the chaos. Safely, Gio reaches Uncle Angelo’s house, but the exciting question tracks him at the celebration too. Uncle Angelo and his minions want to know, “Where the hell is Leo?“
Major Spoilers Ahead
‘The Birthday Cake’ Ending Explained
At Uncle Angelo’s house, Leo sensed danger. Something was amiss. He also invited a minor brawl with his corrupt uncle cop, Ricardo, who asked Gio to call his cousin. Everyone in the party kept on thrusting the same question because they were suspicious of Gio protecting his cousin.
An uneasy Gio wanted to leave, but Uncle Angelo requested him to stay for the tradition. The family enjoyed the cake together, but Gio didn’t bite as he was allergic to chocolate. Fortunately, Gio’s allergy saved his life. The cake was poisoned, and it killed everyone who consumed it. Uncle Angelo and his minions were dead.
Through a phone call, Gio discovered that cop Ricardo had found Leo. Gio quickly ran to the location and found crimsoned Leo inside a bathroom. Ricardo was going to kill Leo when Gio intervened. He pointed a gun at Ricardo, but quickly, Ricardo took over.
Here Ricardo revealed the whole mystery. Leo went against the family, and thus, he deserved to die. Uncle Angelo and his mafias had already established what loyalty and blood meant to them. But, to Gio’s surprise, Ricardo also commented on Gio’s father, suggesting that he killed him ten years ago. “You put up a better fight than your old man did,” said Ricardo.
In the end, Gio shot Ricardo and tried to save Leo, but it was too late. A scared Gio reached Church to ask for forgiveness. Father Kelly already knew about his plight and had also prepared a viable alibi. At the Church, Gio learned that her mother, Sofia poisoned the cake to take revenge on Angelo and his gang. Sofia might be aware that Ricardo murdered her husband, and her brother Angelo was involved too. She made a chocolate cake because she knew that Gio was allergic to it and won’t taste it. The whole plan was schemed by Gio’s mother and Father Kelly to end the syndicate and fulfill their vengeance.
The Birthday Cake is a 2021 Crime Thriller film directed by Jimmy Giannopoulos.
