“An Extraordinary Ordinary Man"
Written by John Colella / Directed by Michael Matthews
“Be anything but a baker” became the echoing advice
that defined John II’s upbringing. Raised in a tight-knit Italian American family he was well aware,
by age 7, of the leading role he would fill in the generational business that his grandfather built in
1923. Embracing the part, he’s anxious to carry the torch until, in an instant, life changes. As John II
grapples with the legacy of his family’s bakery which is now the cornerstone of their community,
and the unspoken dreams that will shape his life, the young man discovers one of the greatest secrets
in life, transcending far beyond the flour-dusted countertops and aroma of freshly baked bread.
“Confident that I’d found my path early in life, I wanted nothing more than to be just like my father.
What he wanted, was for me be nothing like him,” remembers Colella. “Our family business in
Chicago, Claudio Pastry, was the center of my universe but I wrestled with expectations that came
with that heirloom, especially when I better understood the sacrifices made by the last two
generations and how my dad gave up his own dreams at age of 17 so that we could have a chance to thrive in this country. Most of us would probably prefer to build a future through a nice safe plan, but
it’s the unpredictable moments and unexpected sources that shape our destinies in the most profound
ways." John Colella