The Heart of Family: Unpacking the Story Behind Netflix’s ‘Nonnas’
In a heartwarming tale of family, food, and community, Netflix’s latest acquisition, ‘Nonnas’, brings to life the true story of Joe Scaravella’s nonnas-centric restaurant on Staten Island. The film, based on the real-life Enoteca Maria, tells the story of Vince Vaughn’s Joe, who opens the fictional version of the eatery to keep his mother’s memory alive. As The Hollywood Reporter exclusively reveals, the movie’s cast, including Susan Sarandon, Brenda Vaccaro, Talia Shire, and Lorraine Bracco, were drawn to the project for its emphasis on family, love, and tradition.
At the movie’s recent premiere, writer Liz Maccie opened up to The Hollywood Reporter about what attracted her to ‘Nonnas’. "I was drawn to the absolute heart and goodness and kindness of it," she said. "I felt so lucky to put something good out into the world. I also just felt the reflection of my own family in the story, and I grew up in New Jersey in an Italian-American family and what food meant to us — it was like another language." Maccie’s connection to the story is evident, and her enthusiasm for the project is contagious.
The bond between characters was a major draw for Sarandon and Joe Manganiello, who plays Scaravella’s real-life best friend. Sarandon praised the ensemble cast, saying, "I love ensembles, and I love to be in a family situation, and this is about family, and we formed a family." Manganiello, a fan of director Stephen Chbosky and star Vince Vaughn, was excited to play an Italian character and be a part of a comedy. He also appreciated the opportunity to work with his co-star, Drea de Matteo, and their on-screen dynamic.
During filming, Manganiello had the chance to hang out with the real-life counterparts, including Scaravella and his friend Bruno. "Vince and I went over to the real Enoteca Maria one night and hung out with Joe and Bruno while the nonnas cooked us dinner," he recalled. "It was super fun to hang out with those guys and to get to pick their brains." This experience not only gave Manganiello a deeper understanding of the story but also allowed him to form a connection with the people behind the restaurant.
Producer Rachel Shane, chief creative officer at Madison Wells, credited Netflix’s support as crucial to the project’s success. "We just wanted to have as many eyeballs on this film as possible," she told The Hollywood Reporter. "It’s really something that people need right now: family, community, food, second chances for everyone, especially older women, and it’s just been incredible. They really embraced it like nobody else has." Bracco, who plays Roberta, a nonna and Joe’s mom’s best friend, described working with Chbosky and Maccie as a "lovefest".
As the story unfolds, Bracco’s character finds herself drawn to her fellow chefs, despite initial reservations. "I don’t think in the very beginning she was very thrilled with them but little by little, through food and the kitchen, we all opened up to each other," Bracco explained. The film also explores the themes of family, legacy, and community, highlighting the importance of intergenerational relationships and the role of women in the family.
The movie features a talented ensemble cast, including Sarandon, Vaccaro, Shire, and Bracco, who bring to life the stories of older women who have become each other’s family. Maccie emphasized that this was an intentional choice, saying, "I really wanted to emphasize that they became each other’s family. It’s a very important theme for me that family isn’t always a bloodline, it’s the people you share bread with, it’s your neighbor, it’s the person across the street."
Chbosky added that the film offers a fresh perspective on the role of women in society, saying, "Another thing that we talked about is that so often, women of a certain age, you’re defined by your role in a family or as a grandmother. The idea of let us focus on their role as women as this thing that they do, we thought it was a very fresh way to approach." Sarandon also appreciated the film’s portrayal of women of a particular generation, saying, "For years, women have held families together, and it’s kind of sad now that there aren’t more grandmothers that can grow old in somebody’s house with the grandkids, and I think we should value those life lessons and recipes."
‘Nonnas’ is now streaming on Netflix, offering a heartwarming and thought-provoking exploration of family, community, and the power of food to bring people together. As Chbosky noted, "You look at our cast and our crew, I don’t know if there’s a political opinion that isn’t shared by somebody. We’re all entitled to our opinions and what’s really cool is when you have a libertarian like Vince and you have a liberal like Susan and they love each other and they got along, and there was nothing but respect. And to me, the movie is about respect."
