'The Taste of Things', a classy culinary melodrama

Cinema and cuisine, as we know, represent a marriage that works, but very often films with a culinary theme are purely commercial and are not remembered as truly noteworthy artistic experiences.
This is not the case with 'The Taste of Things', the new film by Trần Anh Hùng that was awarded at the Cannes Film Festival 2023 for Best Director. The feature film by the Vietnamese director naturalised French, in fact, is a truly fascinating product, especially for its mise-en-scène, thanks to refined and elegant choices that best enhance the story told.
Set in late 19th century France, "The Taste of Things" centres on two characters: Eugénie, an exceptional cook, who has worked for several years for the famous gastronome Dodin Bouffant. The great complicity, inevitably present between the two, is also the basis of a strong amorous and passionate feeling, especially on Dodin's part. The chef decides to surrender to the evidence and repeatedly asks his partner to marry him; Eugénie has always refused his proposals, seeing marriage as a threat to her freedom. To win her over, Dodin decides to do something he has never done before: cook for her.

Based on the novel 'La Vie et la Passion de Dodin-Bouffant, gourmet', written by the Swiss Marcel Rouff in 1924, 'The Taste of Things' is a decidedly unconventional film, where the entire rhythm is dictated by the movements in the kitchen and the camera seems to dance as it follows the various cooks in action.Between long shots and details of the preparations, the film flows unfortunately jammed in some moments due to various prolixities, but still manages to be magnetic and fascinating thanks to the overall care of the direction.

Trần Anh Hùng thus returns to the levels of his most important works, those that led him to an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language Film in the 1990s ('The Scent of Green Papaya' in 1992) and a Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival ('Cyclo' in 1995).At a time when even gastronomy-themed TV programmes go faster and faster, 'The Taste of Things' is a eulogy to slow-cooking, a film that takes its time to show how the combination of flavours and colours can generate true works of art.In this imperfect melodrama (not all parts are as incisive as they should be) but full of passion, a real asset are the two lead actors, Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel, who give life to an extraordinary acting duet and one of the most intense of the entire film season.

Another new theatrical release, which had its first public screening at last year's Cannes Film Festival (at the Semaine de la critique, to be precise), is "Le ravissement", a film by Iris Kaltenbäck starring Hafsia Herzi.The talented French actress plays the role of Lydia, a midwife who loves her job and dedicates herself to it with great passion. A serious unforeseen event, however, will awaken traumas within her that threaten to make her lose control of her life. This is certainly an interesting first film by Iris Kaltenbäck, a director whose passion for following her protagonist with the camera can be felt. At the basis of the film is the very delicate theme of motherhood, but in spite of some undoubtedly immature passages, the first-time director handles the whole thing with good sensitivity. Perhaps some truly incisive sequences to be remembered at the end of the viewing are missing, but for a first work one can be amply satisfied.