FILM OF THE WEEK THE TASTE OF THINGS
(UK 12/ROI 12, 135 mins, Picturehouse Entertainment, available from April 1 on Amazon/BT TV Store/iTunes/Sky Store/ TalkTalk TV Store and other platforms, Drama/Romance). Starring: Benoit Magimel, Juliette Binoche, Emmanuel Salinger, Patrick d’Assumcao, Jan Hammenecker, Bonnie Chagneau-Ravoire.
Wealthy gastronomic connoisseur Dodin Bouffant (Benoit Magimel) has cultivated a reputation as “the Napoleon of culinary arts” thanks to his enduring partnership with his cook of more than 20 years, Eugenie (Juliette Binoche).
She instinctively interprets his recipe ideas in the kitchen to the delight of Dodin’s close-knit circle of friends including local doctor Rabaz (Emmanuel Salinger), Grimaud (Patrick d’Assumcao) and Magot (Jan Hammenecker).
Eugenie repeatedly rebuffs Dodin’s marriage proposals, fearing the relationship will change if they formalise their current arrangement.
Instead, she focuses on nurturing a girl called Pauline (Bonnie Chagneau-Ravoire) with an extraordinary palate and conceals her occasional fainting fits from the master of the house.
Based on Marcel Rouff’s novel The Passionate Epicure, The Taste Of Things is an intoxicating and delectable tale of companionship and culinary passion that builds to a bittersweet final bite.
Cinematographer Jonathan Ricquebourg allows our eyes to feast on courses of oven roasted veal, turbot poached in milk and a puff pastry crown heaving with crayfish and vegetables enrobed in a glossy cream sauce.
Magimel and Binoche are elegantly paired, behaving as husband and wife without needing rings on their finger.
Their farm-to-table courtship is delightful, heightened by tableaux of tasteful buttock and breast nudity that liken the curves of the human form to the luscious flesh of syrup-soaked fruit.
Director Tran Anh Hung showcases the finest ingredients behind and in front of the camera without unnecessary urgency.
Emotions simmer gently and we end this gastronomic tour de force completely nourished and ravenous.
Rating: ****