Nonnas (2025)

"Nonnas (2025) Movie Review: A Heartwarming Tale of Family, Food, and Tradition"

Theatrical Poster 

Title: Nonnas

Release Year: 2025

Country: United States

Language: English

Genre: Drama / Culinary / Family

Director: Stephen Chbosky

Main Cast: Vince Vaughn, Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, Lidia Vitale, Maria Dizzia

Plot Summary: A grieving chef inherits his late grandmother’s Italian restaurant and teams up with a group of spirited Italian grandmothers (“nonnas”) to save the business, rediscover family, and embrace heritage through cooking.

Themes: Family, grief, cultural heritage, food as connection

Runtime: Approx. 110 minutes

Filming Locations: Primarily New York City, USA

Introduction: More Than a Meal

Nonnas, released on Netflix in May 2025, is more than just a film—it’s a moving tribute to familial love, cultural identity, and the power of tradition passed through generations. Inspired by the true story of Joe Scaravella and his iconic Staten Island restaurant Enoteca Maria, this Stephen Chbosky-directed dramedy blends food, grief, humor, and heart into a flavorful cinematic dish.

At first glance, Nonnas appears to be another feel-good family film. But as the narrative unfolds, it becomes evident that this movie is rooted in something deeper: the longing for connection, the pain of loss, and the comfort found in cultural rituals. With an ensemble cast led by Vince Vaughn and legendary actresses like Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, and Brenda Vaccaro, the movie is both a character-driven ensemble piece and a sensory celebration of Italian heritage.

This review explores every facet of Nonnas, from its storytelling structure and emotional arcs to its visual language, culinary symbolism, performances, and the critical response. We will delve into how the film stands out within the modern cinema landscape and why it resonates with such a wide audience globally.

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1. The Real Story Behind ‘Nonnas’

To fully appreciate the film, it’s crucial to understand its roots. Joe Scaravella, an Italian-American from Brooklyn, experienced profound grief after his mother passed away. In an attempt to reconnect with her spirit and the culture she embodied, he embarked on a bold journey—creating a restaurant where real Italian grandmothers could cook their traditional dishes.

This concept wasn’t born out of a business plan—it was born out of love. These nonnas, hailing from various regions of Italy, each brought their family recipes, dialects, and life stories. Enoteca Maria became a mosaic of Italian femininity, wisdom, and culinary mastery, attracting diners from all over the world.

The film dramatizes this origin story, capturing not only Joe’s grief and ambition but also the unique dynamic between the grandmothers and their deeply personal relationships with food. In doing so, Nonnas becomes both a biopic and a cultural document.

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2. A Closer Look at the Plot: Grief and Gastronomy

The plot centers around Joe (played by Vince Vaughn), who is spiraling after the death of his mother. Feeling disconnected and purposeless, he decides to channel his grief into something constructive: opening a restaurant. But this isn’t just any restaurant—it’s one where every chef is a real grandmother with authentic recipes from Italy.

The early scenes showcase Joe's struggle with grief. Vaughn delivers these moments with subtlety—there’s no melodrama, only a quiet sense of loss that lingers in the background. He finds solace in remembering his mother’s cooking, and soon this nostalgia gives birth to a unique idea.

The film then shifts into a more upbeat tone as Joe recruits his first batch of nonnas. There’s Gia (Susan Sarandon), fiery and fierce, who refuses to let anyone question her gnocchi. Roberta (Lorraine Bracco) is wise and strict, but her meatballs win over even the harshest critics. Teresa (Talia Shire) is motherly and reserved, while Antonella (Brenda Vaccaro) is brash and hilarious.

The restaurant’s early days are filled with hilarious mishaps and heartwarming moments. Customers are skeptical, the city inspectors are suspicious, and the nonnas constantly bicker over the best way to make sauce. But slowly, the restaurant gains attention—especially after a glowing review from a local food critic. As Joe’s vision takes shape, he begins to heal.

The climax is as satisfying as a hearty lasagna. The restaurant celebrates its one-year anniversary with a feast, and Joe, once broken by grief, stands proud amid a new family he never expected to have.

3. Character Analysis and Performances

One of the greatest strengths of Nonnas is its ensemble cast. Every character is brought to life with remarkable authenticity, and their chemistry feels organic, like a real family navigating both chaos and care.

Joe Scaravella – Vince Vaughn’s Career-Best Performance

Vince Vaughn, known for his comedic timing and fast-paced dialogue delivery, takes a significant turn here. As Joe Scaravella, Vaughn shows restraint, depth, and emotional vulnerability. He doesn’t dominate the screen with force but rather blends into the emotional fabric of the story.

Joe's transformation—from a grieving son to a man who learns to cherish new bonds—is central to the film. Vaughn conveys this arc with maturity. There’s a beautiful scene where Joe silently watches the nonnas preparing pasta in the kitchen, his eyes welling up with tears—not from sadness, but from the overwhelming comfort of being surrounded by maternal energy. It’s in these quiet moments that Vaughn delivers one of the most nuanced performances of his career.

Susan Sarandon as Gia – The Fierce Matriarch

Sarandon’s Gia is sharp-tongued and fiercely proud of her Sicilian roots. She brings gravitas and humor, effortlessly commanding every scene she's in. Her chemistry with Vaughn is particularly enjoyable; she treats Joe like a stubborn child, but beneath her scolding is genuine affection.

In a key scene, Gia confronts Joe about trying to modernize the menu. “Food is not fusion. Food is memory,” she says, emphasizing the film’s central theme: authenticity over trend. Sarandon delivers this line with the weight of generations behind her, grounding the movie in cultural tradition.

Lorraine Bracco as Roberta – The Heartbeat of the Kitchen

Lorraine Bracco plays Roberta with a soft, motherly touch. Her backstory—told in a flashback—reveals a life of hardship, war, and love lost, but she remains resilient. Bracco infuses her character with warmth, and her scenes often carry emotional heft.

There’s a powerful moment when Roberta teaches a younger staff member how to make meatballs, telling her, “You don’t cook with your hands, you cook with your heart.” Bracco’s delivery is neither preachy nor sentimental—it’s lived experience, passed down.

Talia Shire and Brenda Vaccaro – Soulful and Spirited

Talia Shire’s Teresa is a widow who finds joy in cooking after years of loneliness. Her arc—from isolation to rediscovery—is beautifully portrayed, with minimal dialogue and expressive body language. In contrast, Brenda Vaccaro’s Antonella is loud, opinionated, and unapologetic, stealing every scene with comic timing and irreverent wit.

Together, these women represent a spectrum of the Italian diaspora’s experience in America—some reserved, some rebellious—but all tied together by a shared cultural passion.

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4. Thematic Exploration

Grief and Healing Through Tradition

At its core, Nonnas is a story about healing. Joe’s decision to open a grandmother-run restaurant is less about business and more about preserving the love he felt through his mother’s cooking. The movie doesn’t shy away from grief; instead, it embraces it as a complex, ongoing process.

Cooking becomes a metaphor for recovery—measured, slow, and rooted in ritual. As Joe learns to cook with the nonnas, he also learns to let go of pain and rediscover joy. The kitchen becomes a sacred space where sorrow is transformed into comfort.

Cultural Preservation and the Power of Heritage

Nonnas is also a commentary on cultural preservation in a rapidly homogenizing world. Each grandmother brings a unique regional recipe, dialect, and story. The film emphasizes that food is not just sustenance—it is storytelling. Each plate is a chapter, each spice a memory.

There’s an especially poignant scene where a customer asks for Alfredo sauce, and Gia snaps, “That’s not Italian. That’s American!” It’s a humorous moment, but it also reflects a deeper tension between tradition and adaptation.

Intergenerational Connection

The movie is rich with intergenerational dynamics. The younger staff learn from the nonnas, but it’s not a one-way street. The nonnas also grow, adapt, and form new friendships in their later years. The bond between old and young is portrayed with humor and heart.

Joe’s relationship with the grandmothers is especially touching. Though not biologically related, they become his surrogate family. The film beautifully illustrates that family is not just who we are born to—it’s who we grow with.

5. Cinematography and Visual Aesthetics

A Feast for the Eyes

One of the film’s standout elements is its lush cinematography. Director of Photography Declan Quinn captures food, emotion, and heritage with a painter’s eye. Every frame feels curated, whether it’s a pot of simmering ragu or a tight shot of a nonna’s wrinkled hands shaping gnocchi.

The kitchen scenes are treated almost like choreography. The camera moves fluidly between characters, dishes, and conversations, creating a dynamic rhythm. Steam rising from pots, fresh basil being torn, olive oil glistening under warm light—it’s sensory storytelling at its best. This approach doesn’t just make us hungry; it immerses us in the film’s emotional terrain.

The restaurant itself is designed with old-world charm: exposed brick, wood-paneled walls, vintage pots and pans, and family photos tucked into corners. These details evoke the nostalgia that Joe is trying to preserve, and every visual choice reinforces the film’s themes of memory and tradition.

Symbolism Through Color and Composition

The color palette leans heavily on warm earth tones—burnt sienna, olive green, sun-dried tomato red—which are all grounded in Mediterranean aesthetics. This not only suits the Italian setting but also provides a comforting, timeless atmosphere.

Joe’s emotional journey is often reflected through visual metaphors. In the early scenes, his apartment is cold and sparsely decorated. As the restaurant takes shape, his world becomes more colorful and lively. The shift from gray tones to warm hues mirrors his internal healing.

One memorable shot shows Joe sitting at a table with all the nonnas around him, laughing and talking over a massive meal. The camera slowly pulls back, emphasizing how he is no longer alone. The composition is reminiscent of da Vinci’s Last Supper—except here, instead of finality, we see rebirth.

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6. Direction and Storytelling Style

Stephen Chbosky’s Maturity as a Director

Stephen Chbosky, known for The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Wonder, brings a seasoned hand to Nonnas. His directorial style is emotionally intelligent—never manipulative. He allows scenes to breathe, giving characters space to express themselves naturally. There’s no overuse of music cues or forced sentimentality. When you feel something in this film, it’s earned.

Chbosky also resists the temptation to oversimplify cultural identity. Rather than painting Italian heritage in broad strokes, he gives each nonna a distinct background and dialect. He explores the nuances of regional Italian cooking—the difference between Sicilian and Neapolitan styles, for instance—highlighting that culture is layered and specific.

The pacing is deliberate, especially in the first half. Some may find this slow, but it’s a calculated choice. Like good cooking, the film takes its time to build flavor and depth.

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7. The Role of Food as Narrative

More Than Just Meals

In Nonnas, food is not just food—it’s a vehicle for memory, identity, and love. Every dish carries a story. When Gia makes her Sunday sauce, it’s not just about tomatoes and garlic. It’s about her father, who worked long hours but never missed a family dinner. When Teresa kneads dough for fresh pasta, she’s remembering her wedding day and the bread her mother made.

The film smartly uses food as emotional punctuation. When Joe finally cooks for the nonnas, it marks a turning point in his character. It’s not just a gesture—it’s him embracing vulnerability and honoring what he’s learned.

Cooking as Communion

The act of cooking together serves as a communal ritual. The nonnas bond in the kitchen, not just through shared heritage but through laughter, arguments, and storytelling. The restaurant becomes a sacred space, where cultures are preserved and wounds are healed.

There’s a moving subplot involving a young, second-generation Italian-American named Rosa who feels disconnected from her roots. Through working with the nonnas, she discovers her grandmother’s handwritten recipes and, in doing so, finds a deeper sense of self. This thread adds another emotional layer to the narrative and highlights how food can bridge generational gaps.

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8. Soundtrack and Musical Score

A Harmonious Blend of Old and New

The film’s score, composed by Dario Marianelli, is a gentle blend of acoustic guitar, mandolin, and soft piano. It never overwhelms the scenes but subtly enhances the emotional landscape. Italian folk melodies are woven in, offering an authentic auditory backdrop to the visuals.

The soundtrack also includes classic Italian-American songs—Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, and even a few obscure folk tracks from southern Italy. These choices ground the film in its cultural context and create a warm, familiar soundscape that complements the nostalgic tone.

A standout moment occurs when the restaurant celebrates its first Michelin star nomination. The nonnas dance to a lively tarantella in the kitchen, flour flying, music blasting. It’s joyous, chaotic, and utterly human.

9. Cultural Impact and Relevance

Redefining the Culinary Drama Genre

Nonnas stands out as a refreshing redefinition of culinary cinema. While there have been films like Julie & Julia, Chef, and Big Night that honor food, Nonnas goes a step further by merging food with identity, grief, and cultural preservation.

What makes the film especially timely is how it resonates with today’s audience—especially younger generations seeking a connection to their roots. In an era of fast food, digital distractions, and fleeting trends, Nonnas reminds us of the value of slowness, tradition, and intergenerational wisdom.

It becomes more than just a story about a restaurant. It’s a meditation on legacy—how food, when treated with reverence, becomes a bridge between the past and future.

Representation of Aging with Grace

Another cultural milestone is the film’s beautiful portrayal of elderly women. In mainstream cinema, older women are often relegated to peripheral or comic roles. Nonnas does the opposite—it places them at the center of the narrative.

The film shows them not as fragile or outdated, but as vibrant, hilarious, emotional, and wise. They flirt, they curse, they dance, they argue, and they love. They are, in every sense, alive. This representation is empowering and long overdue, providing visibility to a demographic that is often ignored in film.

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10. Critical Reception and Awards Buzz

Early Reviews and Festival Applause

When Nonnas premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, it received a seven-minute standing ovation. Critics praised it for its “heartwarming authenticity” and “emotional subtlety.” Several noted that it was Vince Vaughn’s most mature and refined performance to date.

Susan Sarandon and Lorraine Bracco have already been floated as potential nominees in the Best Supporting Actress categories for several upcoming award shows, including the Oscars and Golden Globes. Director Stephen Chbosky is also getting well-deserved recognition for his sensitive and polished direction.

Rotten Tomatoes critics’ consensus currently reads:

“A heartfelt, flavor-packed tribute to matriarchal love, Nonnas serves up a moving story seasoned with authenticity and charm.”

Audience Response

Audience response has been just as warm. Many viewers have taken to social media sharing memories of their own grandmothers, family recipes, and emotional responses to the film. Instagram and TikTok are filled with recreations of the dishes featured in the movie—especially the hand-rolled gnocchi, “Sunday Sauce,” and a standout lemon-ricotta cake.

The movie has sparked real-life conversations about the importance of cooking with family, passing down traditions, and documenting personal histories before they’re lost. In a way, Nonnas is not just a film—it’s become a social movement.

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11. Comparisons to Similar Films

While Nonnas carves its own path, comparisons to other culinary dramas and emotional family stories are inevitable.

Big Night (1996) vs. Nonnas (2025)

Big Night was a love letter to Italian cuisine and sibling bonds, but it leaned heavily into melancholy and the immigrant struggle. Nonnas, in contrast, is brighter in tone and more focused on healing than hardship. The emotional depth is similar, but Nonnas integrates a broader perspective, including feminism, aging, and modern identity.

Julie & Julia (2009) vs. Nonnas (2025)

While Julie & Julia was about learning to cook as a form of personal discovery, Nonnas is about remembering how to live. The emotional focus is different. Julie & Julia centers on ambition and personal goals. Nonnas centers on loss, love, and the magic of togetherness.

The Farewell (2019) vs. Nonnas (2025)

Both films are intergenerational and culturally rich, with strong female leads. The Farewell focuses on a family grappling with death, while Nonnas celebrates those still living—and how we honor those who are gone through the things they left behind.

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12. Final Verdict

Nonnas is a film that sneaks up on you. It may not have the flashy drama of a big blockbuster, but what it offers is more enduring—emotionally satisfying storytelling wrapped in warmth, tradition, and the smell of garlic and tomatoes simmering on the stove.

What Works:

Vince Vaughn’s tender performance—a revelation in subtlety and restraint.

Stellar supporting cast—each nonna feels like a real person, not a caricature.

Authentic food cinematography—you can almost taste every dish.

Thoughtful themes—grief, memory, and tradition handled with care.

Emotional resonance—every viewer will relate to someone or something in the film.

Minor Flaws:

The first act might feel slow to those expecting a faster pace.

Some viewers may crave more external conflict, as the movie is largely internal and emotional.

But those are small quibbles in an otherwise rich and rewarding experience.

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13. Final Rating: 9.2/10

Nonnas is more than a movie—it’s a sensory, emotional journey that leaves you feeling full in the best way possible. It’s a tribute to the grandmothers we’ve lost, the traditions we’ve inherited, and the flavors that connect us all.

Whether you go for the food, the family dynamics, or the heartwarming performances, Nonnas is a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.