This documentary reviews where the best pizza in America, (and possibly the world), has had a long history in New Haven, Connecticut. Three old school pizzerias-Pepe's, Sally's and Modern each have strong rival fan bases and immense popularity in a city that was rooted with Italian immigrants and experienced devastating effects of urban renewal. Food critics, celebrities and fanatics discuss how they travel far to have this pizza. The rich history of each pizzeria are all connected to the Italian community of New Haven. The film will have you craving pizza and eager to try the pizzas to judge for yourself.
33 Reviews
Justice for CT and Pizza!
klkuts27 April 2019
A love story, indeed. I didn't want this doc to end!
clcipriano4 November 2019
"Pizza, A Love Story" is a documentary about pizza in New Haven -- specifically, the "Holy Trinity" of Pepe's, Sally's, and Modern. And I couldn't imagine a more fitting title. The love was clear (as well as contagious), and the storytelling was expert.
The doc is a perfect blend of facts, memories, and unapologetic opinions (often boastfully declared as fact, to be sure lol.) The personal stories bring you right into the hearts and souls of the families behind the pizzerias as well as all the local community members and celeb visitors who fervently declare their favorites. It's witty and whimsical and devout in its attention to detail, and if you know anything about New Haven or NH-style abeetz,, it's an extra treat to watch. I really didn't want it to end.
This documentary is a love letter -- to pizza, to a rich local history, to giving everything you've got to work that you love. Whether that's making pizza or making a movie about making pizza.
The doc is a perfect blend of facts, memories, and unapologetic opinions (often boastfully declared as fact, to be sure lol.) The personal stories bring you right into the hearts and souls of the families behind the pizzerias as well as all the local community members and celeb visitors who fervently declare their favorites. It's witty and whimsical and devout in its attention to detail, and if you know anything about New Haven or NH-style abeetz,, it's an extra treat to watch. I really didn't want it to end.
This documentary is a love letter -- to pizza, to a rich local history, to giving everything you've got to work that you love. Whether that's making pizza or making a movie about making pizza.
Spoiler alert! This film may make you want to drive to New Haven, eat great pizza, and in doing so ruin your ability to enjoy mediocre pies elsewhere.
biggreentruckpizza31 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This is a wonderful movie about pizza, specifically pizza in New Haven Ct, it's three famous pizzerias, their history, their fans, and their culture. It is full of lively interviews, many of which are with celebrities, archival photos and interior shots of the kitchens (and ovens) that have made these places famous. This is not a boring history lesson, nor is it a how make pizza video, it is an exploration by a pizza lover what makes this pizza so special, why do people love it so much, why do the fans do things like wait in line for two hours in the rain, where di it come from and why New Haven Ct? I never felt that the film dragged - it would seem that with such a seemingly limited focus - one dish in one city- it would be hard to make a feature length film but trust me, it is a subject that could be explored for hours and not get boring. There is a lot here for foodies and non foodies alike. It is a break from all the heavy documentaries, it is a glimpse into a world and culture that rewards even those who think they know it well, and rekindles the feeling that here is something special.
Apizza of America
emilytitrud20 February 2020
Pizza And So Much More
vincedejoy17 February 2020
talking heads mistake the US for the world
hikarohiro5 October 2020
Warning: Spoilers
When Americans talk about the world, they mean the west and the east coast of the USA.
That's the reason they always win the World Series!
This is a movie about talking heads repeat themself, how a pizza from Connecticut is the best pizza in the world!
As an Italian I really became curious, most of these pies seemed overly burned to me, to maybe someday get the chance to try one of these best pizzas of the United States.
The whole immigration story was really interesting though and could have been longer
A true, tasty delight!
rsparago17 February 2020
"Pizza, A Love Story" is a documentary not only of delicious pizza in New Haven, CT, it's a also the history about Italian immigration and how the pizza we love got its origin. You'll see famous people talk about their favorite spots of "the big three". You'll learn how pizza originally was a "poor man's food", and how it became the popular delicacy it is all over the world. The director does an outstanding job mixing in history and humor, all the while paying his homage to our favorite Italian treat.
Whether you live in CT, NY, NJ (we know there's great pizza in those states too) or anywhere in the US, do yourself a favor and see "Pizza, A Love Story". You may want to grab some pizza before or after the movie. I can't imagine you'd want anything else to eat.
Whether you live in CT, NY, NJ (we know there's great pizza in those states too) or anywhere in the US, do yourself a favor and see "Pizza, A Love Story". You may want to grab some pizza before or after the movie. I can't imagine you'd want anything else to eat.
Pizza - Food, But SO Much More Than Food
dougray3018 August 2020
This well-crafted documentary is much more than the story of the "Holy Trinity" of New Haven pizza. It's a celebration of the social activity that sharing a pizza is (and was always meant to be). It's a reminder of how pizza was originally a low-cost, critical food source; a sort of "peasant food." It's a lesson on the history of pizza, and how without women and immigrants pizza as we know it would never exist. It's an examination of how ethnic neighborhoods in many cities have been ripped apart by city planners. And it's - as the title says - a love story, the love between pizza and the entire United States. Gorman Bechard hits a home run once again. And remember, it's CHARRED, not burned.
Don't try to tell me you know anything about pizza if you haven't seen this film.
Don't try to tell me you know anything about pizza if you haven't seen this film.
Serious Pizza Talk
masmp27 April 2019
This documentary is an engaging look at New Haven pizza and an enjoyable musing on what makes authentic pizza so much better than most of the junk you can find in national chains. It will be particularly amusing and satisfying for those of us in the Northeast who have tasted the difference. The pizza makers are interesting, the testimonials are touching, and the pizza looks amazing. I learned a lot about one of my favorite subjects, pizza!
I'm so hungry!!!!
bigjoshfan29 September 2020
We love New Haven apizza
sentdata22 May 2020
For the Love of Pizza 🍕
shandi-1948620 February 2020
As a grandchild of New Haven Italian immigrants this movie was like a hug from Nonna. It was so fascinating to see the history of pizza in CT unfold. While the movie is uniquely New Haven it is a piece of American history as well. A celebration of the country's favorite food & a celebration of our rich history. Be ready to order some good pizza afterward!
Great Documentary On The Worlds Greatest Pizza
earlymanfan29 September 2020
A bunch of extra toppings.
Hemi42613 October 2020
I was expecting exclusively a documentary about the three pizzerias themselves, but this film has a bunch of extra toppings included. The film also explores the immigration experience of many Italian and other immigrants who took factory jobs and how pizza was one of the foods they could reasonably afford (a tradition that remains for many college students). The film continues with the gentrification of slum neighborhoods through eminent domain and how pizza continued to unite the people displaced from their homes.
It is a must see.
It is a must see.
A fantastic "slice" of New Haven history!
rwarhall16 February 2020
The Truth!
mocoprodco17 February 2020
I saw this at the New Haven premiere at Yale. The filmmaker had extraordinary access and that always makes a big difference in a documentary. Extremely thorough and highlights the many characters in New Haven that fuel this food rivalry that matches any in the US (Geno's vs. Pat's in Philly, etc). The pies look amazing in this film. It provides great insight into why pizza is so popular in this country and why people get so emotionally involved in their favorite places. And I'm saying this as a nearly 60 year customer of Sally's.
New Haven equals Pizza Heaven and this Documentary Delivers !!
buddha-5976419 February 2020
You would be hard pressed to travel far in New Haven County, Connecticut and not find a Pizza Parlor. As this wonderful Documentary tells us, the "Big Three" are located within just six blocks of each other and most every pizza connoisseur in the area favors one of them.
The film covers much, from Italian immigration into New Haven in the early twentieth century, to the families that started these three iconic pizza eateries. We learn about them and along the way transition through the years to today's Pizza makers. Appearances by Henry Winkler, Lyle Lovett, Michael Bolton and others along with great commentary by area locals make this both a fun and informative work.
In the end it's the great story telling by the films creators that brought this one home for me!
FYI; My personal favorite, Modern Pizza.
FYI; My personal favorite, Modern Pizza.
Pizza. History. Humor. Beauty.
sgtscagct19 February 2020
A fantastic story about how the small city of New Haven CT became the most famous pizza city in America. Celebrity cameos are fun, but the locals they talk to and the history they unearth is what makes this movie so interesting.
A Compelling and Entertaining rendition of the New Haven Pizza Story
nepapizzareview17 May 2020
Being a pizzaiolo and pizza blogger for 8 years living about 3.5 hours from New Haven, I never quite understood the hype of this style of pizza until I took a Taste of New Haven Tour last year. Being an outsider lead through the city by Colin Caplan, I quickly learned the charm of the town and of course the excellence of the pizza.
This film does an incredible job of telling the New Haven Pizza story focused on the 3 "big" pizzerias in town. The history is told in a compelling and digestible way and is interesting to an audience far beyond pizza enthusiasts. The testimony is credible, entertaining, and hugely informational. Having taken 6 hour tour through town, I could not imagine a better way to tell the NH pizza story to someone who hasn't experienced it or doesn't understand it. Very well done, and I can't wait to buy on DVD!
This film does an incredible job of telling the New Haven Pizza story focused on the 3 "big" pizzerias in town. The history is told in a compelling and digestible way and is interesting to an audience far beyond pizza enthusiasts. The testimony is credible, entertaining, and hugely informational. Having taken 6 hour tour through town, I could not imagine a better way to tell the NH pizza story to someone who hasn't experienced it or doesn't understand it. Very well done, and I can't wait to buy on DVD!
You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll crave pizza afterwards! Fabulous!!
dholman-537042 March 2020
Not your typical dry documentary, Pizza, a Love Story relates the history of pizza and how three pizza "families" caused New Haven, Connecticut to become the Pizza Capital of the World (IMHO) You will surprised by the appearances of many well-known persons as they share their love for pizza. The soundtrack and humor sprinkled throughout make the 85 minutes fly by. Do not miss this! You'll never again think of pizza as just a cheap dinner after seeing this film.
A film worthy of the greatness of it's subject
redsoxfan683-117 May 2020
Anyone who has spent some time in southern Connecticut has probably heard about New Haven Pizza. This film does a great deep dive into the history, and the reasons why it has such a reputation. As someone who went to school in the area, I fell in love with New Haven style pizza from the very first bite, and have craved it ever since. This documentary made me nostalgic for the time I spent there, and made me want to get back in the car and take a pilgrimage back to the true Mecca of the pizza world. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, New Haven is the pizza capital of the world, and this film will help you understand why, and hopefully, inspire you to try it for yourself. I'm a Pepe's loyalist, but you really can't go wrong with all three. You just have to watch, and try it, for yourself!
A must see!!
lbkd112 March 2020
Absolutely Great !!
laughableart2 February 2020
Not only does this movie capture the passion and love people have for pizza but also explains the background as to how New Haven came to have such a large Italian community. Planning on getting my Italian father in law (85) who grew up here and his brothers to watch this when it shows in New Haven later this month. Absolutely wonderful !!
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