Juliette Binoche, Benoît Magimel, Bonnie Chagneau-Ravoire, Jean-Marc Roulot
Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel star in The Taste of Things (formerly titled The Pot-au-Feu), a mouth-watering ‘gastromance’ by Tran Anh Hùng (The Scent of Green Papaya, Norwegian Wood) that won him Best Director at Cannes 2023.
France, 1885: Celebrated gourmet Dodin (Magimel) lives on an idyllic Loire Valley estate alongside Eugénie (Binoche), his cook and cooking collaborator of over 20 years. Normally Dodin devises the dishes while Eugénie executes them to perfection, and when she finally allows him to cook for her, their carefully calibrated relationship takes an unexpected turn.
Adapted from a 1924 novel by French epicure Marcel Rouff, The Taste of Things is a story about love and food, focusing on the specificity of its leads’ emotional connection and shared obsession, with an intimacy beautifully essayed by Binoche and Magimel. Opening with a bravura 40-minute sequence of preparation and indulgence in one epic meal, this is no flash in the pan but a deep tribute to the closeness experienced at work as we rely on each other. Tender, romantic and occasionally humorous, it’s also a visual feast, with lavish scenes of food preparation beautifully lit by DP Jonathan Ricquebourg that are intoxicating, sensual and in their care and detail, unexpectedly moving. With all of the appeal of Chocolat but with far more restraint on the sugar, The Taste of Things is a true feast for arthouse audiences.
