Elmwood Park Celebrates Local Bocce Ball Documentary Premiere
A new documentary titled How We Roll, directed by Anthony Ciancio, showcases the vibrant bocce ball community in Elmwood Park, a suburb of Chicago. The film chronicles the legacy of Ciancio’s father, Mike Ciancio, who established the local bocce ball league, highlighting how this centuries-old game has fostered connections among friends, family, and competitors throughout the year.
The documentary premiered at the Oak Park Film Festival in September, where it won a Best Documentary award, marking a significant achievement for Ciancio as he presented his first full-length film to an audience. Reflecting on the festival experience, Ciancio noted, “When you’re at a film festival, you can feel the energy in the room,” expressing his realization of the film’s emotional resonance.
On October 5, 2023, the film will have its hometown debut at the local Recreation Center, a moment that holds personal significance for Ciancio. “The Oak Park Film Festival was great, but these are the players themselves, the people in town—the people who run the league,” he remarked, acknowledging the pressure of screening the film for those he knows intimately.
The Elmwood Park bocce league has grown rapidly since its inception in 2014, expanding from just eight teams to approximately 150 teams today, with a waiting list for new participants. Ciancio, who joined the league during its second year, has witnessed this growth firsthand. “You can see it from the film how much it’s grown,” he said, reflecting on the community’s enthusiasm for the sport.
Bocce is a deceptively simple game where teams roll balls towards a smaller target ball, known as the jack or pallini. Matches are quick, lasting less than thirty minutes, allowing players to enjoy the game while socializing with friends. Ciancio shared that players travel from across the Chicago area to participate, reinforcing the league’s role as a social anchor in the community. “It’s like that for a lot of other people, too. They’ve since moved out of Elmwood Park but they drive in for bocce night,” he noted.
Before embarking on his film career, Ciancio spent nearly two decades as a futures trader on the stock market. Despite his professional success, he harbored a long-standing passion for filmmaking. “I always wanted to go to film school and finally I just hit a wall where I was like, ‘if I don’t do this, I’m never going to do it,’” he explained. Enrolling at DePaul University, he found the perfect subject for his documentary in the bocce league that had been a significant part of his life.
The project officially began in 2021, shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many activities, including bocce leagues. Ciancio faced various challenges, including his own health issues and personal milestones, which delayed production. “I wound up getting sick myself. I’ve had it a few times, but I got really laid up. That was a big obstacle,” he recalled. After resuming work in 2023, he is now finalizing the film, which includes submitting it to various film festivals.
The October 5 screening at 5 p.m. provides an opportunity for the Elmwood Park community to come together and celebrate their shared love for bocce. “It’s a great way to bring everyone together,” Ciancio concluded, excited to share the story of a sport that has become an integral part of the fabric of Elmwood Park. The screening will be held at the Recreation Center, located at 2 Conti Parkway, and promises to be an event filled with local pride and community spirit.
