Dominic Sessa revisits the 1970s as the lead in Tony, a biographical drama that follows a 19-year-old Anthony Bourdain during a single summer in Provincetown in 1975. The film limits its scope to that season, depicting the future author of Kitchen Confidential as he works in a seafood kitchen, forms relationships and begins to shape the instincts that would later define his career.
Dominic Sessa, 23, first attracted wide attention with his performance in The Holdovers (2023), directed by Alexander Payne. That film, set in 1970, was noted for its meticulous period design and tonal fidelity to the era; Sessa’s turn there and his casting in Tony underline a string of early roles that engage with 1970s settings and sensibilities. To date he has appeared in five feature films, and his work has drawn attention for its period-specific detail.
Tony confines its narrative to Provincetown’s seasonal rhythms: the bustle of a coastal resort, the rhythms of a busy kitchen and the off-stage moments that can reshape a young person’s path. The production emphasizes authentic costume and production design to recreate the era’s look and atmosphere while centering on the everyday labor—washing pans, preparing seafood, and the informal mentorships—through which the protagonist discovers his métier.
Anthony Bourdain is widely known as the author of Kitchen Confidential and the host of later television series that traced food cultures worldwide. This film focuses on an earlier chapter, presenting formative experiences rather than the later celebrity career. Sessa has spoken about the appeal of inhabiting that specific historical moment and has described a personal affinity for the period’s music, fashion and social textures as part of his preparatory work.
Tony contributes to contemporary cinematic interest in origin stories and cultural histories, offering a concentrated portrayal of a young figure who would become a prominent voice in food writing and television. The film’s attention to setting and craft positions it as a study of apprenticeship, place and the small decisions that inform a public life.
