The Taste of Things

By Joanna Langfield

Juliette Binoche meticulously creating the Frenchest of French meals in the rustic kitchen of an Impressionist era estate? Yes, Chef!

Tran Anh Hung is serving up a true feast of the senses with this period romance. Cook Eugenie has been running the kitchen of a wealthy gourmand for over twenty years. The relationship between her and Dodin has flavors of its own, evolving from the purely professional to a kind of independent and very personal love. It becomes fascinating to watch these two, as the intricacies of their somewhat unique connection reveal themselves. While the physicality of it may not surprise, the respect and her reluctance to wed can. How many women, in servitude to a wealthy and powerful man would, at that time, insistently assert their autonomy? I’m sure there were some, but, in most literature and other art of that period, we don’t get to see a whole lot of that.

But this is not a feminist manifesto. It is, in its way, an homage to a way of life, a period of time. And to the basic foods of a country, meals that were cooked over a fire, dishes that took hours to prepare. Recipes that may have been handed down, but took a special talent to recreate.

And it all looks amazing.

While the plot, and yes, there is one, feels secondary to the visceral pleasures that surround it, it is beautifully played by the transcendent Binoche and her former life partner, Benoit Magimel. The honesty of their regard for one another seeps through scenes that might have otherwise felt somewhat melodramatic, helping to make this not just a delicious treat for foodies, but a memorable drama as well.