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Titled after the Southern Italian tradition that made its way across the Atlantic to become a part of many Italian-American families’ Christmas Eve celebrations, Robert Tinnell’s adaptation of his own graphic novel/recipe book Feast of the Seven Fishes does well to center itself upon its food even if the people eating it prove the real focal point. It’s probably not a coincidence then that most of our attention is specifically spent on seven teens with a direct or peripheral connection to dinner at Grandpa Johnny’s (Paul Ben-Victor). What transpires wouldn’t be the same without each of them participating similar to how the meal couldn’t survive the removal of a single seafood favorite. And as the fish follow the baccalà’s culinary lead, the characters find themselves taking their cues from Tony (Skyler Gisondo).

He’s a bit of an outlier in the family considering...

Jean Zarzour, Ray Abruzzo, Joe Pantoliano, Lynn Cohen, and Paul Ben-Victor in Robert Tinnell’s memorable and smart Feast Of The Seven Fishes

Robert Tinnell’s memorable and smart Feast Of The Seven Fishes, shot by Jamie Thompson, production design by Jason Baker, costumes by Joshua Hurt, edited by Aaron J Shelton, and a score by Matt Mariano, has a great ensemble cast including Paul Ben-Victor (Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman), Joe Pantoliano, Skyler Gisondo, Madison Iseman, Ray Abruzzo, Lynn Cohen, Jean Zarzour, Addison Timlin, Josh Helman, Andrew Schulz, Jessica Darrow, Cameron Rostami, David Kallaway, Tony Bingham, and Nancy Telzerow,

When I met with screenwriter/director Robert Tinnell for a conversation, he told me how much the film is based on his childhood memories. The time is Christmas 1983, the place a small Appalachian town in West Virginia. An extended Italian American family is readying to celebrate the Feast Of The Seven Fishes.