Alto 2015

Frankie Del Vecchio, Diana DeGarmo, is an Italian American singer-songwriter who toils to build a name with her band while navigating a committed relationship with a man whose dream is to launch a frozen‑food label. Her everyday life takes a sharp turn when she discovers a dead body in her rental car and, choosing to do the right thing, turns it over to the police. This incident pulls her into a web of crime and loyalty far beyond her music career.

She shares a cramped, chaotic life with her sister Heather Del Vecchio, Melanie Minichino, whose fixation on the mob world bleeds into Frankie’s world in small, unsettling ways. Heather’s fascination nudges Frankie toward a funeral that feels almost like stepping into another country, a place where danger and power mingle in dimly lit rooms. At the funeral of a real‑life mob boss, Frankie crosses paths with Nicolette Bellafusco, Natalie Knepp a striking and self-assured woman who carries herself with a calm confidence that captivates Frankie from the start. Nicolette’s presence is both alluring and unnerving, and Heather immediately sees an opportunity to use this connection to help Frankie push toward bigger stages.

Nicolette isn’t just a stylish stranger; she’s the daughter of the crime lord and has her own agenda to help Frankie and her band gain traction, including a shot at performing on Mob Hit, a popular TV show. The more time the two spend together, the more Frankie finds herself drawn to Nicolette, even as she remains engaged to her longtime boyfriend. The pull between music, love, and loyalty creates an undercurrent that unsettles Frankie’s world and unsettles those around her.

As the story unfolds, a more dangerous thread emerges: someone is plotting against Nicolette’s father, and Frankie becomes a suspect because of her ties to people in the mob. The tension tightens until the truth comes to light: Frankie’s own father, Mike Del Vecchio, David Valcin, is a bookmaker for the mob boss. This revelation shakes Frankie to her core, leaving her to question her loyalties and the very foundation of her family’s involvement in organized crime. Even with this damning information, Frankie is ultimately cleared of direct involvement, but the sense of betrayal lingers and reshapes how she views the people she’s always trusted.

The investigation and the unfolding romance ripple through both families, and the romantic connection between Frankie and Nicolette is watched closely by Frankie’s fiancé and by the two families. The film leans into the emotional complexity of choosing between a future that fits a conventional path and a love that challenges every expectation. As the pressure mounts, Frankie and Nicolette confront not only external risks but also the expectations and judgments of their loved ones, who must decide whether to accept their bond.

In the final turn, Frankie makes a decisive choice: she ends her engagement to pursue her true feelings for Nicolette. The two women step forward, determined to win the support of their families while carving out a life together. The closing moments hint at a cautious optimism, with Frankie and Nicolette stepping into a future where love, honesty, and a shared sense of identity may finally take center stage, supported by the families who must come to terms with the past that brought them all to this crossroads. The film threads themes of self‑authorship, forgiveness, and the long, careful process of gaining acceptance from those who fear the consequences of stepping outside expected norms.