Italian food – comforting, familiar, made to be shared and always a crowd-pleaser. But there was a time when risotto was seen as foreign and strange.

Big Night is a charming comedy/drama about two Italian immigrant brothers, chef Primo (Tony Shalhoub) and businessman Secondo (Stanley Tucci, also co-director), who open their dream restaurant, Paradise, in New Jersey. But business is slow. Primo’s menu is too authentic for local palates and the restaurant is struggling.

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Secondo, the younger and more enterprising brother, hatches a plan to host an authentic Italian dinner for a select group of VIP guests. Together they showcase true Italian cuisine and generous hospitality in hopes that the famous Italian-American bandleader Louis Prima will attend, and draw much-needed publicity for the restaurant..

 

There’s lots to love about this film. We see two passionate brothers who are exact opposites – a traditionalist versus a forward thinker, an artist versus a businessman – and the classic rivalry that unfolds between them is a story everyone with siblings is familiar with. Yet the brothers come together to give Paradise one last shot, a night so important that it will determine the fate of their much-loved restaurant.

Deliciously funny with real heart, be sure to enjoy this filmic treat with a something Italian, and for Primo’s sake, please, something authentic, eh?

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Food on Film: Episode 3

Big Night (1996) Directed by Stanley Tucci and Campbell Scott.

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Good for those who enjoy

A slice of Italian-American nostalgia with a side of extra carbs.

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Scene to look out for

The labour of love preparing the Timpano dish from scratch, and the priceless risotto scene and the closing scene of the film is *chefs kiss*.

Also lookout for a young Marc Anthony, Minnie Driver and Isabella Rosellini in supporting roles.