In the heartwarming new Netflix film “Nonnas,” director Stephen Chbosky (“Wonder,” “The Perks of Being a Wallflower”) explores how grief can transform into unexpected community and connection.
The movie, based on the true story of Joe Scaravella, chronicles how he created Enoteca Maria, a unique Staten Island restaurant where grandmothers from different cultural backgrounds cook traditional meals, after losing his mother.
“The entire movie is a celebration of this family, of this man who did this wonderful thing,” Chbosky said. “I know that God’s a part of all of it, as far as I’m concerned.”
Screenwriter Liz Maccie, who penned the script, found a deeply personal connection to the story. Growing up in a New Jersey Italian American family where “food was our main language of love,” Maccie immediately recognized the narrative’s potential when she learned about Scaravella’s journey.
“I felt like the real Joe created this restaurant to heal his grief,” Maccie said. “Writing this movie healed my grief of losing my mother.”
Chbosky and Maccie, both raised in Catholic households, also incorporated subtle faith elements that reflect the Italian American experience. The film subtly weaves religious traditions into its narrative, presenting faith as a natural, comforting presence during difficult times.
“What I loved about the movie was it showed that the truth of the heritage, it showed the truth of the traditions, all the traditions, including faith,” he said.
Chbosky, known for his character-driven storytelling, intentionally included the real-life inspirations in the film. The actual Joe Scaravella and his friend Bruno appear briefly, adding authenticity to the narrative.
“I always love to put easter eggs in,” Chbosky explained. “It was a real honor to be able to tell their story.”
The movie explores themes of loss, community, and healing, presenting grief not as a dark, insurmountable challenge, but as a transformative experience that can lead to unexpected connections.
“What they gained was so much more than where they started,” Maccie said, reflecting on the film’s emotional journey.
The ensemble, including Vince Vaughn, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, Joe Manganiello, Drea de Matteo, Campbell Scott, Michael Rispoli, with Linda Cardellini and Susan Sarandon, was an “all-legend cast,” according to Chbosky. He related how they each brought personal experiences of family and loss to their performances, frequently shared stories about their own mothers.
“When the cameras were not running, they would sit and say, ‘I miss my mom,'” Chbosky recalled. “It was the most beautiful thing to watch them talk about their families.”
With “Nonnas,” Chbosky continues his tradition of creating films that explore complex emotional landscapes with warmth, humor, and profound empathy. The movie invites viewers to see loss not as an endpoint, but as a potential beginning of something meaningful.
“We do not revel in death,” Chbosky said. “We celebrate life.”
“Nonnas,” directed by Stephen Chbosky and written by Liz Maccie and starring Vince Vaughn, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, Joe Manganiello, Drea de Matteo, Campbell Scott, Michael Rispoli, with Linda Cardellini and Susan Sarandon is now streaming on Netflix.
Watch an interview with Stephen Chbosky, Liz Maccie, and DeWayne Hamby below:
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