Tony film explores the early life of Anthony Bourdain

The biographical drama “Tony,” directed by Matt Johnson, explores a pivotal summer in the life of a young Anthony Bourdain. Set in 1976 in Provincetown, Massachusetts, the film focuses on the period when the future culinary icon transitioned from aspiring writer to kitchen worker.

Dominic Sessa portrays the 19-year-old Bourdain as a complex, sometimes difficult individual discovering discipline and craft. Antonio Banderas stars as Ciro, a mysterious chef and mentor who provides Bourdain with a job as a dishwasher after a confrontation at a seafood restaurant. Rather than attempting a full life biography, the film serves as a character study of maturation through labor and the discovery of professional passion.