A new biopic called “Tony” is giving fans a look at Anthony Bourdain before the fame, before the TV shows, before “Kitchen Confidential.” Set over one summer in Provincetown, Massachusetts, the film follows a college-aged Bourdain who just got rejected from a writing fellowship. Instead of giving up, he lies about his credentials to land a dishwashing job at a local restaurant. It’s messy, it’s bold, and it completely changes his life.

Antonio Banderas plays the restaurant owner who becomes Bourdain’s mentor. Through that summer of hard work, long shifts, and kitchen chaos, Bourdain discovers a passion for food that he never saw coming. The movie suggests he only became a great writer because he finally had real, lived experience to draw from. He didn’t write until he had something worth writing about.

The film also touches on a bigger cultural conversation about men and reading, noting that men are reading less fiction than ever. But Bourdain’s story flips that script. He found his voice by doing something real first. Whether you’re a fan of his food shows or just love a good underdog story, “Tony” is one to watch this season. Have you ever taken a detour in life that ended up being the right path? Let us know in the comments.