Netflix’s newest film, Nonnas, draws inspiration from the life of Jody Scaravella, who opened Enoteca Maria on Staten Island in 2007 after his mother died. Nearly 20 years later, Enoteca Maria is still thriving, reminding its customers every day about the value of a home-cooked meal, especially when it’s made by someone who loves you—like your nonna (which is Italian for grandma). Directed by Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower) and written by Liz Maccie (Sirens), the film tells a story of grief and, more importantly, that it’s never too late to follow your dreams.
After the death of his mother, Joe (Vince Vaughn) grieves by cooking the food she and his nonna would spend hours cooking for their family. Despite growing up next to them in the kitchen, he can’t seem to get these dishes exactly right and craves some of his nonna’s home-cooked meals. He knows the way through his grief is remembering these two women through their recipes, and he impulsively buys and fixes up a long-abandoned restaurant on Staten Island with a dream of bringing everyone’s nonna’s cooking to the community.
The story beats are predictable, but that doesn’t make Nonnas any less heartfelt and enjoyable. We know from the start of the film there will be countless issues with the opening of the restaurant, fights between the headstrong nonnas, and a rekindling of an old romance. But only by watching will we discover how much we’ll love these characters and, regardless of our background, how much our own families will be reflected in those on screen.
Chbosky has recruited a wonderful cast, most notable is of course the nonnas: Joe’s mother’s stern longtime best friend, Roberta (Lorraine Bracco), two more nonnas he finds on Craigslist Antonella (Brenda Vaccaro) and Teresa (Talia Shire), and finally another of his mother’s friends, an amateur pastry chef named Gia (Susan Sarandon). These women are proud of where they come from, proud of their cooking, and have no formal experience in the restaurant industry. It makes for a fun and chaotic time as they start up the business. Supporting the main cast is Linda Cardellini as Olivia and Joe Manganiello and Drea de Matteo as Joe’s married best friends, Bruno and Stella. This ensemble cast will immerse you in the world of Italian culture in Staten Island and the Bronx, slowly but surely stealing your heart in the process.
The heart of Nonnas, aside from the themes of grief and family, is the idea that you are never too old to try something new. We see this in the younger set of characters who are making huge career shifts despite being established, and we see it with the nonnas who believe they are no longer valued or needed in society. But the opening of Enoteca Maria gives everyone a new purpose, teaching each character there is more to live for.
Nonnas isn’t anything exceedingly noteworthy or groundbreaking, but it doesn’t seem like it’s trying to be. The world needs more feel-good family movies (especially ones that revolve around strong relationships) and Netflix has proved it knows this with Nonnas. It’s the perfect film for a family gathering—just make sure you have some homemade pasta to go with it.
