05/16/2026
Most Mafia legends are forged in bloodshed, betrayal, and public spectacle. But the story of the Bufalino family is different. It was defined not by chaos or flamboyance, but by control, discipline, intelligence, and a loyalty so absolute it was rarely questioned.
IT IS WHAT IT IS – The True Story of the Bufalino Family tells the rarely explored story of Russell Bufalino — the quiet Mafia boss whose influence stretched far beyond what the public ever realized — and the powerful figures surrounding him who operated in silence while shaping organized crime across America. Among them was his cousin, Angelo Bufalino, a trusted lieutenant who remained fiercely loyal until the very end. Together, they helped transform the Bufalino crime family into one of the most disciplined and influential organizations in Mafia history.
While Russell oversaw operations spanning Pennsylvania, Detroit, and beyond, Angelo remained a constant presence in Pittston, quietly managing Russ’s businesses and interests while staying almost entirely invisible to the public eye. The documentary begins in Pittston, Pennsylvania — the small city where the Bufalino family settled, built its foundation, and quietly accumulated influence that would eventually reach across the nation.
What makes this documentary unprecedented is not simply the story being told — but who is telling it.
Directed by James Callahan, the great-nephew of Russell Bufalino’s legendary capo dei capi / underboss James “Dave” Osticco, this film is not another outsider interpretation of Mafia folklore. Executive Producer Eric Loomis Perluke, has worked one-on-one with the closest living soul to Russell Bufalino himself, Joe Bufalino, gaining access to firsthand knowledge, family insight, official paperwork and documents, as well as, personal accounts never before shared publicly.
This is a film made by the family, not merely about the family.
For the first time, audiences will hear directly from the people who actually stood beside Russ, Angelo, and Dave — the men, relatives, and insiders who lived this history rather than speculated about it decades later. Through firsthand testimony, generational trust, and authentic relationships, IT IS WHAT IT IS – The True Story of the Bufalino Family presents the first fully authentic, family-sanctioned telling of the Bufalino story ever committed to film.
The documentary also directly confronts the myths, embellishments, and historical inconsistencies popularized in The Irishman and The Life We Chose, separating cinematic legend from documented truth. Rather than sensationalized fiction or recycled hearsay, this film offers an insider account rooted in real relationships, verified history, and the voices of those who were truly there.
Most Mafia legends are forged in bloodshed, betrayal, and public spectacle. But the story of the Bufalino family is different. It was defined not by chaos or...
