Primo and Secondo, two immigrant brothers, pin their hopes on a banquet honoring Louis Prima to save their struggling restaurant.
Acting
Shalhoub's simmering genius; Tucci's desperate charm.
Direction
Dual debut so confident it feels like their tenth film.
Writing
That omelette scene: economy, poetry, heartbreak.
Director
Stanley Tucci
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The timpano recipe is real—Tucci's actual family recipe from Calabria. They made three for filming; cast and crew ate them all.
Released the same year as 'The English Patient' and 'Fargo,' this tiny food film outlasted them all as the ultimate chefs' movie. Every real cook worships it.
US
