This sexy, romantic drama from Italy looks at love through the lens of food: lush, delectable, and sometimes maddening.
This warm-hearted dramedy, which premiered to much acclaim at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival is filled with a parade of delectable Italian men and mouth-watering baked treats, which will leave audiences exclaiming, “Brava!”
For the outspoken and awkward teen AJ (Nell Barlow, giving a droll, witty breakout performance), going on a family holiday spells disaster. With her mother Tina (Jo Hartley) constantly nudging her towards more feminine outfits and corny family activities, AJ isn’t even provided the escape of good Wi-Fi. The boredom and restriction are broken when AJ meets Isla (Ella-Rae Smith), a lifeguard at the vacation spot who could offer solace from the constraints of normalcy. The hope of a summer romance begins to break AJ free of the heteronormative expectations of her mother, and as AJ gets closer to Isla, she tiptoes towards liberation and self-conviction—with all the stumbling blocks of young adulthood awaiting her.
Sensual, honest, and deeply compassionate, MINYAN tells a coming-of-age tale that’s so rich with specifics and heartfelt emotion that it feels not just fresh but vital. This brilliant narrative debut from writer/director Eric Steel (producer of JULIE AND JULIA with Meryl Streep and Martin Scorsese’s BRINGING OUT THE DEAD) follows one young man’s exploration of family, love, sexuality, and faith.