The Taste of Things

Original title: La Passion de Dodin Bouffant

The Taste of Things is a beautiful ode to food and the cooking of. It's a feast for the eyes, in many ways, a sumptuous and delicious film. Set on a French country estate in 1889, it features Dodin, a gourmand, and Eugenie, a cook who works for him. They have been in partnership for 20 years and also have a romantic relationship. But they have never married and sleep in separate rooms.

The film opens with both preparing an elaborate meal for a group of Dodin's friends. It's a long extended sequence of food preparation as we view the love and dedication involved. Dodin and Eugenie spend countless hours discussing food and the inherent beauty with in. This film takes its time, the camera moves slowly around long scenes of cooking, eating and conversation. It's infused with light, focusing on the beautiful food made. It's beautifully acted too, with Juliette Binoche and Benoit Magimel superb in the lead roles. Nineteenth century France saw the burgeoning of gourmet restaurants and this wonderful film shows the beginning of that movement with a fair amount of grace and beauty.

Directors(s) Anh Hung Tran

Language: French with English Subtitles

Genre(s) Drama, History, Romance

Runtime 2h 15m

Cast Juliette Binoche, Benoît Magimel, Emmanuel Salinger

Cert 12

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