Feast of the Seven Fishes [DVD]

Holiday flick takes place in 1983 in a predominately Italian working-class area of Pennsylvania. It follows aspiring artist Tony (Skyler Gisondo) as he has just broken up with girlfriend Katie (Addison Timlin) and his family is preparing for the annual Christmas Eve "Feast of the Seven Fishes", an Italian Catholic tradition. When hanging out one night with friends Angelo (Andrew Schultz) and Sarah (Jessica Darrow), Tony is introduced to Beth, a Protestant college girl from the wealthier part of town. Tony and Beth start to fall for each other and he invites her over for the Christmas Eve feast. With his wacky Catholic family, Katie wanting him back and Beth's mother (Lisa Velten-Smith) not liking her hanging out on the wrong side of the tracks, will these two ever find holiday romance?Holiday romantic comedy is filled with old-school charm thanks to writer/director Robert Tinnell knowing to downplay the over-the-top bombasity that ruins most holiday flicks. The film has loads of atmosphere, both for the Yuletide season and from being steeped in old-fashioned Italian tradition. The 1983 setting adds to the charm, but Tanell never lets it become the focus over his well-written characters. Fishes follows many traditions of holiday romantic comedies, such as two people from different worlds meeting on a special night, yet avoids the clichés and overblown melodrama of the bigger Hollywood holiday flicks. That's what makes this work so well, it's subtle presentation of it's story. It seems far more real and far less fabricated than it's big studio counterparts, which prefer big overcooked set pieces to the down-to-earth human interaction that we get here. It feels like you're watching real people and not something manufactured. The characters themselves are traditional, yet not stereotypes and the cast wonderfully fill the roles of real people types, despite playing familiar/classic roles.As for that cast, it's what really makes this movie fire on all Yule logs. Skyler Gisondo leads an excellent ensemble of actors. He's likable, charming, but very understated. A very down to earth performance that makes Tony very realistic and endearing. Madison Iseman once again proves she's an actress to keep an eye on. She makes Beth far more than the stereotypical rich girl that she could have been. Instead we get a young woman who wants to live her life her way. She's sweet and very likable and she and Gisondo have some really nice subtle chemistry that makes their romance down-to-earth and relatable. Addison Timlin is also good as Katie. Another role that could have been cliché, but script and actress make you feel sympathy for a young woman who hasn't quite found herself, or her happiness, yet. We like Katie and hope she does find what she's looking for someday. Supporting cast is very impressive. We get veteran Paul Ben-Victor as Johnny, the host of the feast and a man who will defend his baccala to the end. Lynn Cohen is wonderful as Tony's old-school Catholic grandmother who, at first, doesn't approve of Protestant Beth. Again, a character avoiding stereotype with some subtlety and depth. Nonnie might surprise you. Rounding out are flavorful performances from Ray Abruzzo as Uncle Carmine, the legendary Joe Pantoliano as Uncle Frankie, Jessica Darrow as Sarah, Andrew Shultz as Angelo and Josh Helman (X-Men: Apocalypse) as Juke. A great cast.In conclusion this is a wonderfully charming and refreshingly subtle and atmospheric Christmas romance. It's steeped in the flavor of old school tradition and contains classic characters that avoid being stereotypes, thanks to down-to-earth portrayals and a heartfelt script. Writer/director Robert Tinnell avoids the overblown dramatics and bombastic set pieces that weigh down the big budget Hollywood holiday fare, to give us an old-fashioned Christmas tale of two kids from opposite sides of town meeting and falling in love under the glow of Christmas lights and some salty baccala. An absolute delight and maybe a new Christmas classic if given the attention it deserves!-MonsterZero NJ

This is the best little Christmas movie! I love it ❤️ so much! I have simply played it on loop all day long during the holidays. It's that good! The characters in the story are so genuine. The 3 day adventure of an, Italian Christmas Eve, is a party, everyone, would enjoy! 😉 I love the time piece set in 1983! I wish they would make a second movie to show the next chapter in the lives of these awesome friends and family. So good! A must watch! (Watched over 50 times and counting...)

This was one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. I loved it It reminded me of how I feel every time I watch Moonstruck. Simply a great movie!

If your Italian especially an older one you will love this movie. Men cooking for Christmas Eve. Exactly how it is. Brought back many fond memories. Out of 11 boys I only have two uncles left. Both in there 90s.

I've tried to explain what growing up in North Central West Virginia was like to many friends over the last 20+ years living in the South. They never believed me what a diverse area of food and culture I grew up in. Now I'll just tell them to watch this movie to understand.I especially appreciated the scenes of "Beth's house, " having been there a few times with an old college boyfriend. In fact, that's the first place I ever had a little too much to drink! Lol.Oh the memories...Highly recommend, especially to my Fairmont and Clarksburg, WV friends.

Wonderful movie and destined to be a Holiday classic! I had no idea about the flick when CSW (the self-described beautiful Crazy Sicilian Woman - a term of endearment - I'm dating) suggested that we see a showing at the Kimball Theatre in Williamsburg.I have to go back several hundred years to reach the Italians in my woodpile but the movie was pure magic! So many echoes of holidays with extended family, and young adult angst over love, loneliness, and social status. The experiences of this large Italian family in the West Virginia of '83 mirror quite well with those of my red-neck family in eastern Oregon of the same time. Brilliant screenplay and perfect suspension-of-disbelief; it was like walking into one's own past!Those who viewed the movie with CSW and myself at the Kimball had the additional pleasure of a Q&A afterward with the brother-team writers and directors as well as one of the actors!Two thumbs way the h*ll up!

This was pretty much like some Old World Italian families I've known. I read the graphic story book this is based on. It doesn't have as happy an ending as this movie, but the book "Feast Of The 7 Fishes" has very interesting background info & recipes, showing this was based on a true story. The house and the store in the movie even look like the real photos in the book... Beth: "What were you doing in Montreal?' Frankie: "You know, --- business." (Yeah. ;) )

I connected with this movie because I grew up outside Pittsburgh in a town similar to the one depicted in W.VA in the movie. The town was an ethnic enclave of Italians, Slovaks, and Poles and the holidays were always a culinary delight. Food and Catholicism was the glue that held these folks together and this movie captured that spirit perfectly. The romantic interests between classes was also spot on. We still make the feast of 7 fishes at Christmas thanks to my Italian wife and I make Hrudka and a few other Slovak items at Easter.