What’s Your Favorite Food Movie?
Yesterday I underwent some very intense oral surgery. You really don’t want to know the details, but it was no ordinary wisdom tooth extraction. I was warned of a slight chance of jaw fracture and nerve damage, but fortunately those things did not happen. Still, I was told to prepare for 5 to 7 days of feeling yucky, so here I am on the couch, doing just that.
I’m one of these people who is always doing 1,001 things at once, so in a way, there is a blessing to slowing down (though it would be better, of course, if this slowdown did not involve so much gauze!). I can’t really do much today, so I watched one of my fave food movies, Mostly Martha. It’s a German film (that came out a few years ago) about a chef in an an upscale restaurant, her little niece, and an a charmingly eccentric Italian chef who comes into her life. As for the food, there’s not much to appeals to the likes of us veg and vegan eaters until Mario comes into the picture; still, I love Martha’s almost neurotic devotion to detail and perfection in the kitchen (so unlike me, who likes to just throw everything together in the simplest possible way!). It’s a great little film, gentle and genuine.
Another food film I love is Tortilla Soup, which is quite similar in structure to its Asian predecessor, Eat Drink Man Woman, but set in Los Angeles. In this movie the chef is a widower devoted to his three (or is it four?) grown daughters. It’s colorful, lively, and a lot of fun.
There’s also Babette’s Feast, kind of your benchmark food film, and I’m not even sure I’ve seen it. We rented Big Night some weeks ago but I wasn’t too crazy about it.
I read some time ago that Mostly Martha is being remade in an American version. Somehow I have a feeling it won’t be an improvement, so see the original first if you can. Can any of you recommend any other food films you’ve seen and enjoyed?
Starla said,
October 26, 2006 @ 12:53 pm
Ohh, Babette’s Feast. I love it and have seen it probably 3 times. Again, not exactly veg. friendly but watching her put together the meal of her life was so interesting.
Danielle D. said,
October 26, 2006 @ 7:24 pm
I decided to make a my own blog post about my favourite food movie:
http://eatreadbemerry.vox.com/library/post/peanut-butter-solution.html
Anjelica said,
October 27, 2006 @ 1:46 am
although i’ve never seen it i’ve heard that Como Agua Para Chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate) was a really wonderful movie. I’ve been told many times I should see it, and I think I actually just might go and rent it now that I remembered!
Chris Reynaud said,
October 27, 2006 @ 3:32 am
Definitely Babette’s Feast for me - not a veg fest, it’s true, but for the images of the sensual and sensory pleasures to be had as a lover of food and all that goes with it - the preparation, the anticipation, the sharing - it really hits the spot.
Dr. Judy said,
October 27, 2006 @ 7:54 am
I would have to say Like Water for Chocolate (with subtitles)—hands down!
Nava said,
October 27, 2006 @ 9:10 am
Oh, yes, I forgot about Like Water for Chocolate—I haven’t seen it in a while, so thanks for the great suggestion! I loved the book, too, with all those elaborate, almost mystical recipes at the beginning of each section. And I’ll have to sit down with Babette’s Feast at last; I may even be able to understand some of the French.
Susan F said,
October 27, 2006 @ 9:36 am
Like Water For Chocolate is one of my favorites. If you want to see a really good foreign film (not about food) I highly recommend the Israeli movie Walk On Water.
Geraldine said,
October 27, 2006 @ 10:35 am
I loved Mostly Martha, saw it years ago at our local library.
Hope you are feeling a lot better and very soon Nava. Doesn’t sound like fun what you went through with your dental surgery.
Take care, Geraldine
Geraldine said,
October 27, 2006 @ 10:36 am
PS I also loved the movie, Chocolat….
Nava said,
October 27, 2006 @ 10:58 am
Geraldine, thanks for the reminder about Chocolat, one of my favorite movies! I wish there were more food movies; after all, food is so much a part of life! Has anyone else out there seen Tortilla Soup?
cv said,
October 27, 2006 @ 7:10 pm
I LOVED Tortilla Soup! It’s definitely a winner! Has anyone seen the Japanese comedy about noodles Tanpopo(1986) ? Very funny—again, definitely not veg but I think any foodie could relate to the obsession with finding the perfect recipe!
Susan G said,
October 27, 2006 @ 9:01 pm
I love the opening of Eat Drink etc, with all that chopping, loved Tanpopo. I can’t think of more…there must be more! What about oldies, black & white era? Then there are books. Years ago I read Buddenbrooks, loved the extensive descriptions of their meals (Imperial Germany, I guess, Victorian era). At the time I thought I would reproduce those meals, but many vegetarian years later the moment has passed, and my inspirations are more down to earth (thank you, Nava!). Now I read mystery novels with cooking context, and recipes — the latest are historical settings, “Spice Box” stories. (no, not veg either)
Joan said,
November 1, 2006 @ 5:03 am
Hi from Italy,
There is one food film that I have read about but have never been able to see: it’s by the British-Indian director who made Bend it Like Beckham and compares four families in teh States of different ethnic origins (Indian, Chinese or Vietnamese, Mexican…???) and how they prepare for Thanksgiving. As far as I remember it is a fiction film, not a documentary but either way I would love to see it…. Has anyone heard of this film?
I agree with Tortilla Soup being yummy!! I saw it in Spain of all places!!
Love
Joan
cv said,
November 2, 2006 @ 8:02 pm
Joan, I did a library search based on your post and came up with this: “What’s Cooking?” (2000), directed by Gurinder Chadha. Here’s the library’s summary: “Celebrate Thanksgiving dinner with four American families and their traditions and family dynamics. Includes African American, Jewish, Latino and Vietnamese families.” Thanks for the tip—I plan on viewing it!