Was a great honor to be part of the Lonely Wolf Festival this year, it is truly one of my favorites where all the films are hand picked and curated to represent the best in new media, so just to even be part of it means a lot. What’s more, besides a nice mention in MovieMaker Magazine, our film was reviewed by critic Adrian Perez and fortunately, he seemed to like it:

“DISCO SAUCE: THE UNBELIEVABLE TRUE STORY OF PENNE ALLA VODKA (USA)
Roberto Serrini

By Adrian Perez

     “Disco Sauce: The Unbelievable True Story of Penne Alla Vodka,” directed by the award-winning filmmaker and travel documentarian Roberto Serrini, is a fascinating and delectably indulgent journey into the heart of culinary love and obsession. It’s a gastronomic odyssey that provokes both the intellect and the palate, a film that elevates the art of documentary storytelling to an epicurean extravaganza.

Borrowing the curiosity of Morgan Spurlock’s “Super Size Me” and the zest of Jonathan Gold’s “City of Gold,” Serrini’s “Disco Sauce” presents an intriguing deep dive into the roots and cultural relevance of Penne Alla Vodka, a dish that defies culinary norms to straddle the line between diner fare and fine dining. His exploration reveals the dish’s secret powers, simultaneously polarizing and unifying the food world.

Serrini, in his mercurial wit, parallels the complex and layered nature of the dish to society itself, daring to probe our collective food obsession and insatiable quest for culinary satisfaction. The film becomes a metaphorical buffet, a deconstructed plate of Penne Alla Vodka reflecting the multifaceted nature of the human condition. Much like the nature of the dish, the documentary mirrors how we, as a society, can be both high and low, simple and complex, accessible and exclusive. It’s a culinary dance that plays out like a Truffaut’s “Day for Night” meets Pollan’s “In Defense of Food”.

The documentary is peppered with appearances from the crème de la crème of the culinary world. The James Beard award-winning Chef JJ Johnson, Chef Jae Lee of Nowon NYC, and Chef Gaetano Arnone of Babbo, among others, lend their expert perspectives, infusing the film with an intoxicating mixture of culinary knowledge and passion.

Serrini’s meticulous eye for detail, honed from a distinguished career spanning multiple Vimeo Staff Picks and a permanent place in the MoMA collection, is evident in every frame. The cinematography is as sumptuous as the dish itself, with Serrini capturing the simmering, the stirring, and the flamboyance of Penne Alla Vodka in vivid detail, reminiscent of the luscious food scenes in Tampopo or Big Night.

However, “Disco Sauce” is not just a love letter to Penne Alla Vodka; it’s a celebration of food as a cultural phenomenon, a social binder, and a source of joy and inspiration. The film challenges the viewer’s perception of culinary norms, pushing the boundaries of our relationship with food.

“Disco Sauce: The Unbelievable True Story of Penne Alla Vodka” is a feast for the senses and a triumph of documentary filmmaking. It’s a delightful blend of culinary exploration, social commentary, and personal discovery, all served with a generous dollop of wit and charm. Like a well-prepared dish of Penne Alla Vodka, it’s comforting yet sophisticated, familiar yet surprising, and ultimately, deeply satisfying. Grade: A+”

Truffaut’s “Day for Night” meets Pollan’s “In Defense of Food” … I’ll take it. Truly excited to share this piece with the world soon. It’s premiering at the Big Apple Film Festival in Manhattan May 19-23rd, which I suggest seeing it on the big screen because it’s a pretty big pasta:)

To find out more and get hungry you can alway check over at https://italyinbocca.com/discosauce