Trattoria

This is a wonderful and charming indie film with a strong cast led by Tony Denison and John Patrick Amedori. When I saw this movie with a friend, the first comment he made as we were leaving the theater was, "that was delightful!" I absolutely agree and would also add that it's smart, funny and refreshing because it takes risks. The movie is beautifully shot and looks like a big-budget Hollywood film. But I doubt Hollywood would make this film, because it doesn't follow the run-of-the-mill Hollywood formula. The story is two fold; it's about a complicated father-son relationship, while it also delves into the "second wife" and her role/place within this relationship. I haven't really seen that issue explored before in a movie. All of this takes place with the backdrop of the hard realities of the San Francisco restaurant business, with real-life chefs, like Elizabeth Falkner, giving fascinating insights into life as a "restaurateur." In the end, I would say I loved this film and it made me hungry … go see it!

There are no surprises in this, everything pretty much goes by the boilerplate structure of a film of this nature. Still, it was pleasant and a couple of the actors stood out, the two young protagonist in particular.

Imagine how many little films like this you could make with the budget from some piece of garbage like Dead-drool 2. Forget that, just the marketing budget for that ultra-violent sociopathic abomination would be enough to keep an army of small film makers in business for a few years.

This is a charming film that really captures the drama and reality of running a restaurant. It also shows how hard it is to be in any business with close family members: a father, a son, and a second wife... all with their own opinions of how things should be done. The family tensions (sometimes funny and sometimes serious) mixed with the tensions of running a restaurant, is a great recipe for a layered film that keeps your interest peaked all the way through. The great thing about the film is no one family member is always right or always wrong, so we, as the audience, are constantly changing sides. This film probably won't make you want to run out and open a restaurant, but it will give you hope that there still are some movies being made with great characters, a good story, and heart.

Gorgeously shot in San Francisco TRATTORIA captured me immediately with its opening scene in a gleaming new restaurant kitchen, where the first characters to make their entrance are spectacularly prepared Italian dishes and jewel-hued wines. Warm and enticing, aromatic and savory, food and wine are the touchstones of this tale of food, family, love and obsession. The stakes are set early on, after Cinquecento's opening night. Workaholic chef, Sal Sartini (Tony Denison) eagerly scans the Top 100 list and, not seeing his restaurant's name on it, says through a Corleone-esque grimace, "I gotta get on that list." Toss in an angry young man, Sal's estranged son, Vince, (John Patrick Amedori), Sal's elegantly voluptuous, sharp-tongued wife and hostess with the mostest, Cecilia (Lisa Rotundi), a slow-burning love affair, a fearsome food critic, and an Italian nonna and you have got a recipe that sizzles and satisfies. And where would great food be without equally sensuous ambiance? The film features a tangy, poignant soundtrack from local gypsy jazz favorite, Gaucho, whose music is made for food and love. TRATTORIA serves up both, with generosity and gusto. Also on the table with director/writer Jason Wolos's well-balanced cast are documentary clips of local celebrity chefs, to fine effect. (Elizabeth Falkner's assessment of the kitchen theatre reveals that even an apparent cakewalk is rife with drama.) What can I say? I married a Frenchman who won me in minutes with his casually stupendous moules marinière and a pleat-crisp Sauvignon Blanc, served on our lower Pacific Heights fire escape, the fog making its stealthy way eastward. By the age of two, both our children knew the difference between food made with love, and the other kind. As Sal says, "Food, wine, cooking – it connects people. It's all about people." Who could ask for more?

Great family drama played against the cut throat world of the high end SF restaurant world. Director inter cuts interviews with actual SF chefs (a la Linklater w/Bernie) talking about the tension/joys of the biz. This doc conceit actually amplifes the fictional father-son dynamic which lifts the veil of the food service industry to show how the it can both unite and tear apart the personal lives of the chefs. Food shots are awesome and show the craft/time pressure involved with churning out high end food night after night. Afterwards you will want you to either go out to eat someplace special or cook something lavish at home ... think Eat Drink Man Woman or Big Night