Passionada

Passionada is a 2002 American romantic comedy film. It is directed by Dan Ireland and stars Jason Isaacs, Sofia Milos and Emmy Rossum, co-starring Seymour Cassel and Theresa Russell. The screenplay by Jim and Steve Jermanok is based on a story by producer David Bakalar. The film is set in New Bedford, Massachusetts, a formerly wealthy port town with a sizable population of Portuguese descent.

==Plot summary== Celia Amonte is a Portuguese American widow who lives in New Bedford, Massachusetts with her daughter Vicky; her late husband was a fisherman lost at sea. Vicky sneaks out of the house to go to a casino, where she meets Charlie Beck, a British card counter, and attempts to convince him to teach her his trade. Charlie is apprehended by the casino staff, and told that he can either work to find other card counters, or be banned from the casino. After accepting a ban, Charlie meets with his friends Daniel and Lois Vargas at the Shawmut Diner, where they attempt to convince him to stop card counting. Charlie goes to a Portuguese restaurant with Daniel and Lois, and becomes interested in Celia after seeing her sing fado. He repeatedly tries to date Celia, and is rebuffed. Charlie later finds Celia's address in the phone book and goes to her house, where he encounters Vicky. Vicky agrees to help Charlie pursue her mother in exchange for card counting lessons, and threatens to reveal his identity as a gambler should he refuse.