The great Anthony Bourdain left us nearly three years ago to the day, and yet he remains one of the most universally beloved culinary and entertainment figures in modern history. And in case re-watching Parts Unknown isn’t enough to fill that void in your hearts, a new documentary on the life and untimely death of one of the world’s most precious beings is set to arrive soon. If the trailer is anything to go by, it’ll be an emotional ride.
Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain utilises past interviews with the man himself, as well as input from his family and friends, to piece together his meteoric rise from chef to superstar, as well as the at-times turbulent struggles he faced when the cameras were off.
Directed by Morgan Neville, whose past credits include Won’t You Be My Neighbour? and the Academy Award-winning documentary 20 Feet From Stardom, the film doesn’t offer much in the way of a synopsis beyond the fact that it is “about Anthony Bourdain.” Frankly, it doesn’t need to.
The debut trailer for the documentary hit the internet earlier this morning, showcasing just about everything that made Bourdain great; brutal honesty and self-reflection, a fiercely curious mind, and a bone-dry sense of humour.
The film is set to have its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in Bourdain’s native New York on June 11th. From there, it begins rolling out in cinemas from June 16th onwards. No information on a potential Australian release was available at the time of writing.
In the meantime, it’s absolutely worth revisiting the time Bourdain food-hopped down Sydney Rd in Brunswick with Matt Preston, stopping at the legendary A1 Bakery, and the equally as iconic Town Hall Kebab for the kind of food you’d ordinarily inhale somewhere in the vicinity of 3am.
God damn it, he’s absolutely right. Town Hall Kebab is the truth.
The world just ain’t right without Tony, I tell you.
