Nonnas: How Stephen Chbosky and Liz Maccie crafted an ode to food and family.
As someone with Italian-American roots, I understand the significance of family dinners. Many Italians take great pleasure in preparing Sunday sauce (or gravy, as some might say) and enjoying an early dinner, often before most college students have even woken up from their Saturday night outings. Gathering around the table to share a meal is fundamental to a close-knit family. The new Netflix comedy, Nonnas, recognizes this truth: food symbolizes love.
Joe Scaravella, played by Vince Vaughn, learns the importance of food and family early in life by spending time in the kitchen with the family matriarchs. However, as a single adult in South Brooklyn, he loses that sense of comfort following his mother’s passing. Without a clear path, he takes a leap of faith and opens an Italian restaurant in Staten Island, employing chefs who are grandmothers, or Nonnas: Gia (Susan Sarandon), Roberta (Lorraine Bracco), Teresa (Talia Shire), and Antonella (Brenda Vaccaro).
Ahead, director Stephen Chbosky and screenwriter Liz Maccie discuss why Nonnas serves as a tribute to food and family, elaborating on iconic dinner scenes and the incredible talent of the cast.
Kevin Mazur / Getty Images for Netflix
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Digital Trends: One of my favorite lines from the movie is about how food represents love. It highlights the significance of gathering for dinner and enjoying a meal together. There have been countless memorable dinner scenes in films. If you could each go back in time and observe the filming of a famous dinner scene, which movie would you choose?
Liz Maccie: Oh, what an excellent question.
Stephen Chbosky: Wow, that’s a thought-provoking one. You have us thinking hard! I’ll tell you, after six hours in, I was wondering, “Where was this guy?”
I had a later time!
Chbosky: They recently held that 40th-anniversary panel that everyone’s been discussing. I’d love to be part of that lunch scene in The Breakfast Club. Being the sixth kid there would have been special.
Maccie: This might sound a bit wild, but I often think about the dinner scene in Sideways at the Hitching Post, one of our favorite restaurants. That’s my pick.
Chbosky: That would have been a fantastic choice too.
Those are excellent selections, especially since they involve wine.
Maccie: [Laughs] Absolutely, it has to involve wine.
The phrase “get out of the way and let them cook” epitomizes this film, especially with the talents of Vince, Talia, Lorraine, Brenda, and Susan in one kitchen. As a writer and director, how do you approach scenes to strike the right balance between delivering the script and allowing the actors to shine?
Maccie: [Laughs] You ask such insightful questions. I wrote from a genuine perspective, drawing from my childhood and the women in my life. These four characters embody many aspects of those women, reflecting their true nature.
Chbosky: I cherish my wife’s script because I wanted to work on it. It’s foundationally brilliant with great lines. When working with such talented actors, it’s vital to remember they signed on because they loved the script. They would deliver their lines, and then we’d let them explore and improvise, especially with such gifted talent.
You mentioned the five leads, but Linda Cardellini, Joe Manganiello, and Drea de Matteo also brought their own unique ease to their roles. They embodied their characters and infused their personal experiences, allowing us to sit back and witness the magic unfold. The set was truly remarkable.
Jeong Park / Netflix
Stephen, your projects often explore themes of hope, renewal, and discovering purpose. Based on your experiences, what’s the key, or, for lack of a better term, the special sauce for crafting these character-driven narratives?
Chbosky: There’s a great principle at play, similar to what you do with kids: you hide the vegetables. What I mean is, a long time ago, I received excellent advice from actor John Malkovich while producing The Perks of Being a Wallflower. He told me, “Because I love your script and it has real heart, you don’t need to be overly sentimental. Direct this movie like a guy from Pittsburgh. Always go for the tough take.”
Those words stuck with me. They have influenced my work significantly. When developing a project or identifying a strong script, it’s essential to find a lighter and more hopeful way of expressing things without ignoring serious challenges, grief, or the struggles people face.
It’s akin to Monty Python’s Always Look on the Bright Side of Life. If you can find humor amidst sorrow, take that chance because, ultimately, grief and hardship are a reality. By showcasing
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