Directed by Anh Hung Tran
Starring Juliette Binoche, Benoît Magimel, Galatéa Bellugi, and Bonnie Chagneau-Ravoire

There have been many foodie films to come before The Taste of Things, but if one truly deserves to be labelled the most gourmet cinema experience of them all, this refined French romantic drama dishes plenty to salivate on its plate.

Truth be told, the various mouth-watering meals that are served to their seated patrons happens to be the least gourmet part of this experience, as delectably designed as they are when dished out. The Taste of Things is here to forcibly slow our busy lives and hand-feed its viewers a literally breathtaking exhibition of the entire process from cultivation to consumption.

Our cooks for the next two hours and fifteen minutes are Eugénie and Dodin, played by the once married in real-life pairing of the evergreen Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel, respectively. She is an esteemed cook who has worked for Dodin for over 20 years, and he is a fine gourmet chef considered to be “the Napoleon of culinary arts”. In fact, Dodin is based on a fictional character from a 1924 novel by a Swiss author and that novel is in turn loosely based on a real-life renowned French gourmet and gastronome, Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826).

That aforementioned piece of trivia is perhaps testament to the roots of purity this film is dedicated to. Clearly, that is best showcased via its food scenes, but the characters are also pure of heart, and the setting in which they reside, and cook is a stunning grand manor set on landscapes as picturesque as everything we see on a plate. Most of the first half of this film focuses largely on the detailed preparation, creation and artistry of every meal, side dish, and accompaniment that is served. The Taste of Things undoubtedly works mighty hard behind the scenes to earn viewer appreciation, but for someone who has gone completely off cooking, it effortlessly earned mine and had me inspired to pen an internal shopping list of ingredients for my next grocery store visit! The second half of the movie spends more time developing the 20-year partnership of our chefs while still cooking up the occasional storm. 

With a welcome abundance of attention to detail placed on food, in a general sense, it essentially becomes this film’s central character. A similar amount of background, development, and richness is not applied to the human characters in this film. Consequently, during scenes where there is less eating and more talking, The Taste of Things struggles heavily at times to engage. 

Nevertheless, to observe and be present with such a sumptuous spectacle on the big screen such as this is perhaps worth the price of admission alone. Especially if you’re fortunate enough to savour your own in-cinema gourmet experience whilst viewing another.

The Taste of Things is showing in selected cinemas across Australia from May 2nd.

Moviedoc thanks Rialto Distribution and Annette Smith: Ned & Co for providing a screener link to watch and review this film.

Review by Leigh for Moviedoc

Follow on Twitter – Moviedoc / LIKE on Facebook – @moviedoc13 / Follow on Instagram – moviedoc_melbourne / Follow on TikTok – @moviedoc4

©