The Taste of Things

The Taste of Things

Set in France in 1889, the film follows the life of Dodin Bouffant as a chef living with his personal cook and lover Eugénie. They share a long history of gastronomy and love but Eugénie refuses to marry Dodin, so the food lover decides to do something he has never done before: cook for her.

  • Released: 2023-12-29
  • Runtime: 134 minutes
  • Genre: Drama, Romance
  • Stars: Juliette Binoche, Benoît Magimel, Patrick d'Assumçao, Emmanuel Salinger, Jan Hammenecker, Frédéric Fisbach, Galatéa Bellugi, Yannik Landrein, Sarah Adler, Jean-Marc Roulot
  • Director: Tran Anh Hung
 Comments
  • oswaldovzki - 9 June 2024
    A tasteless experience
    "The Taste of Things" is a visually and aurally pleasing film that centers around the art of cooking, with a dash of romance. However, for me, it fell a bit flat. The movie doesn't have much going on aside from the culinary focus, which might be great for some but left me wanting more in terms of plot and character development.

    One of the standout aspects of the film is the sound mixing. The movie captures the satisfying sounds of cooking-sizzling garlic, the clatter of utensils, the rhythmic mixing of food. These auditory details create an immersive and enjoyable ambiance that makes you almost smell and taste the food being prepared.

    Equally impressive are the photography and lighting. The kitchen scenes are bathed in warm, bright light, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. In contrast, other rooms in the house are dim or bland, making the kitchen feel like a sanctuary. Every time the film transitions to the kitchen, it brings a sense of comfort and relaxation.

    However, beyond these technical achievements, the movie struggles to maintain interest. The plot isn't necessarily boring, but it lacks depth and intrigue. Without the exceptional sound and visual elements, the movie would be rather tasteless.

    On a side note, the title plays a role in shaping expectations. The original title is much more compelling and intriguing compared to the translated one, which feels dull. Additionally, as a vegetarian, it was tough to watch scenes involving the preparation of slaughtered animals, which affected my overall enjoyment.
  • mchl88 - 14 April 2024
    Yummy
    This was a beautifully shot movie. The cinematography, especially in the cooking scenes, was extraordinary. There wasn't much of a storyline to it, but sometimes tension and plot are extraneous.

    If you love food and exquisite cuisine, you'll appreciate this movie. If food is food to you and you think there's too much time spent on simple sustenance, then I suspect you'll find this film tedious and maybe even boring.

    If I'm being honest I'm somewhere in the middle. While I appreciate a good meal, I don't think I have a refined enough palate to know the difference between a well cooked meal and haute cuisine. I'm the same way with wine. I know a good bottle from swill, but can I differentiate a good bootle from a great bottle? Probably not.

    Anyway, I enjoyed this movie. 7 out of 10 for me.
  • felicityezra - 11 March 2024
    Fall in love with lovely gourmet, elegant cinematography & brilliant acting
    The story revolves around the kitchen and menu managed by Eugenie (Juliette Binoche, Chocolat), the cook, and Mr Dodin (Benoît Magimel, The Piano Teacher), a 'gourmet' or a person devoted to refined sensuous enjoyment (especially good food and drink), who are the main characters, along with their enjoyable friends and helpers.

    It's a marvelous fiction and an eloquent showcasing of the French's way of preparing several courses of menus. My brain couldn't handle in sequence everything beautiful about this movie because there's many of them. From acting brilliance to the tiniest elements of taste, the kitchen, utensils, and the out of this world menu with their ingredients.

    Set in 1889, it depicts a romance between a cook and the gourmet she works for. The character of the gourmet is based on Dodin-Bouffant, created by Swiss author Marcel Rouff in his 1924 novel La Vie et la passion de Dodin-Bouffant, gourmet (The Passionate Epicure)

    I gave it a 9/10 not a perfect 10 but I could not give the reason here it will become a spoiler. I urge you to watch it though because it's worth time, energy and money. A very inspiring film.