Anthony Bourdain's humanity shines in trailer for new film about his extraordinary life

He was a chef, an author, and a travel show host, but people who loved Anthony Bourdain didn't love him just for his work. They loved him for his unique ability to get to the heart of humanity through those lenses. Whether he was exploring culinary delights in Delhi or marveling at the colorful culture of Mozambique, Bourdain offered us a window to the world and an introduction to the diverse people who call our planet home.
His openness about his own shortcomings and his ability to connect with places and people in a real, down-to-earth, honest way drew a large audience. And because people felt a real connection with him, his untimely death from suicide in 2018 rocked the world in a way that's hard to describe. A man who had such a love for the world leaving it in such a way was a painful blow. We all know that mental health struggles don't discriminate, but Bourdain's suicide at age 61 hit people hard.
Perhaps that's why this preview of a documentary about his life, "Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain," has received such an emotional response. Directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Morgan Neville, the film follows Bourdain's career through his shows, books, and world travels. It includes interviews with his closest friends and colleagues, and is designed, Neville told Rolling Stone, to showcase Bourdain "in his own voice and in the way he indelibly impacted the world around him."
Watch:
ROADRUNNER: A Film About Anthony Bourdain - Official Trailer [HD] - In Theaters July 16youtu.be
Fans have feelings seeing this preview. But perhaps it will be a cathartic cryfest and a way to honor Bourdain's contributions to the human story.
My thoughts exactly. I wanted to weep from the first frame of the trailer. This will be a painful, beautiful pilgrimage.— Stephen Kelman (@Stephen Kelman) 1622732532
And for those who have not yet delved into Bourdain's rich legacy, perhaps it will be just the introduction they need to take the plunge.
Agreed. I had always liked his shows, but it wasn't until I read his books that I realized how truly impressive the guy is. So many shortcomings, but so brutally honest about them & always striving to get a better understanding of the world around him and the the journey of life.— itaintAndy (@itaintAndy) 1622736288
The film will have its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 11 and is set to be released by Focus Features on July 16.
There's a reason why some people can perfectly copy accents, and others can't
Turns out, there's a neurodivergent link.
A woman in black long sleeve shirt stands in front of mirror.
Have you ever had that friend who goes on vacation for four days to London and comes back with a full-on Queen's English posh accent? "Oooh I left my brolly in the loo," they say, and you respond, "But you're from Colorado!" Well, there are reasons they (and many of us) do that, and usually it's on a pretty subconscious level.
It's called "accent mirroring," and it's actually quite common with people who are neurodivergent, particularly those with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). According Neurolaunch, the self-described "Free Mental Health Library," "Accent mirroring, also known as accent adaptation or phonetic convergence, is the tendency to unconsciously adopt the accent or speech patterns of those around us. This linguistic chameleon effect is not unique to individuals with ADHD, but it appears to be more pronounced and frequent in this population."
Essentially, when people have conversations, we're constantly "scanning" for information—not just the words we're absorbing, but the inflection and tone. "When we hear an accent, our brains automatically analyze and categorize the phonetic features, prosody, and intonation patterns," writes Neurolaunch. For most, this does result in copying the accent of the person with whom we're speaking. But those with ADHD might be more sensitive to auditory cues. This, "coupled with a reduced ability to filter out or inhibit the impulse to mimic…could potentially explain the increased tendency for accent mirroring."
While the article explains further research is needed, they distinctly state that, "Accent mirroring in individuals with ADHD often manifests as an unconscious mimicry of accents in social situations. This can range from subtle shifts in pronunciation to more noticeable changes in intonation and speech rhythm. For example, a person with ADHD might find themselves unconsciously adopting a Southern drawl when conversing with someone from Texas, even if they’ve never lived in the South themselves."
People are having their say online. On the subreddit r/ADHDWomen, a thread began: "Taking on accents is an ADHD thing?" The OP shares, "My whole life, I've picked up accents. I, myself, never noticed, but everyone around me would be like, 'Why are you talking like that??' It could be after I watched a show or movie with an accent or after I've traveled somewhere with a different accent than my 'normal.'
They continue, "Apparently, I pick it up fast, but it fades out slowly. Today... I'm scrolling Instagram, I watch a reel from a comedian couple (Darcy and Jeremy. IYKYK) about how Darcy (ADHD) picks up accents everywhere they go. It's called ADHD Mirroring??? And it's another way of masking."
(The OP is referring to Darcy Michaels and his husband Jeremy Baer, who are both touring comedians based in Canada.)
Hundreds of people on the Reddit thread alone seem to relate. One comments, "Omfg I've done this my whole life; I'll even pick up on the pauses/spaces when I'm talking to someone who is ESL—but English is my first language lol."
Sometimes, it can be a real issue for those around the chameleon. "I accidentally mimicked a waitress's weird laugh one time. As soon as she was out of earshot, my family started to reprimand me, but I was already like 'oh my god I don’t know why I did that, I feel so bad.'"
Many commenters on TikTok were shocked to find out this can be a sign of ADHD. One jokes, "Omg, yes, at a store the cashier was talking to me and she was French. She's like 'Oh are you French too? No, I'm not lol. I'm very east coast Canada."
And some people just embrace it and make it work for them. "I mirror their words or phrase! I’m 30. I realized I start calling everyone sweetie cause my manager does & I work at coffee shop."