Tony gives Anthony Bourdain something worth writing about
We are often asked as adolescents what we want to be when we “grow up” — doctor, lawyer, engineer, the usual respectable pursuits to pluck from. Embedded in the question is an assumption that maturity and wisdom simply arrive as natural side effects of aging into our careers. As filmmaker Matt Johnson’s Tony, a fictionalized biopic about Anthony Bourdain’s formative years, reminds us, growing older offers no such guarantee.
TL;DR
- The film 'Tony' fictionalizes Anthony Bourdain's early life, focusing on his time at 19.
- Bourdain initially aspired to be a novelist but lacked life experience and discipline.
- After a period of hardship, he began working in a seafood restaurant in Provincetown.
- He was mentored by the restaurant's proprietor, referred to as Chef, who taught him discipline and practical skills.
- He was also influenced by a friend named Sal, who introduced him to hedonism and debauchery.
- The film suggests that this period helped Bourdain discover the dignity of manual labor and find his voice as a storyteller.
- Bourdain eventually grew up and found a medium to channel his ambitions, becoming the writer he wanted to be.