The first 38 minutes of this film is a gastronomical feast for the eyes. What you see will send your taste buds reeling as you watch the choreography of creating amazingly delectable dishes in this French kitchen set in 1889. Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel are exquisite together in a delicious French film about a female cook who is the inspiration and muse for the rich gourmand she has worked with for 2 decades.
The film is based upon Marcel Rouff’s classic 1924 novel,“ The Passionate Epiciure,” and is a lesson in passionate filmmaking as well as cooking. Eugénie (Binoche) lives in Dodin Bouffant’s (Magimel’s) chateau and she’s established her own form of communication and boundaries when it comes to working together in the kitchen as well as in the bedroom. There is joy and sadness in the scenes with Binoche and Magimel. Their performances are exceptional and you can tell they know each other very well. Binoche and Magimel were once partners in real life and share a daughter.
Writer/Director Tran Anh Hung (The Scent of Green Papaya and Cyclo) told us in our interview how he worked with with Cinematographer Jonathan Ricquebourg to capture each delicacy as if choreographing a dance from every possible angle. You see closeups of bubbling kettles, pastries still steaming right out of the oven and precise preparation and presentation. Hear the sounds of the kitchen, stirring, carving, seasoning, kneading, to create these culinary masterpieces.
Tran used famous French chef, Pierre Gagnaire as his culinary director. And Editor Mario Battistel served up visuals of the preparations as carefully as the romantic scenes later in the film. Watch our interview with French Vietnamese Writer/Director Tran Anh Hung from The Chicago International Film Festival explaining what he wanted to do and told us two scenes where Binoche went off script beautifully that he kept in the film.
Eugénie wants her freedom, but also respect for her incredible talent in the kitchen. She takes the recipes Dodin dreams up and makes them come to fruition, even embellishes them. From vol-au-vent, roasted veal loin, poached turbot, making sauces, gently cooking quenelles, to a fabulous meringue covered baked Alaska and so much more.
Eugénie’s right hand assistant is Violette who is also good at anticipating every necessary move according to cooking time and kitchen space. And the very young Pauline from the village is brought in to show Eugenie and Dodin her remarkable pallet being able to pick out distinct spices and flavors. Whose beyond her years, she shows impressive potential to become a great chef herself some day. And Bonnie Chagneau-Ravoire also shows the ability to be a great actress.
On the cusp of a new wave of cooking, Dodin feeds his gourmet loving male friends for meals to taste and judge his new recipes, played by actors Patrick d’Assumçao, Frédéric Fisbach and Emmanuel Salinger. You’ll feel as though you are tasting these delicacies right along with them. And when they are invited for an exotic, over-the-top extravagant meal with a prince, there is much to discuss and inspire Eugénie with what they tasted.
In the course of the film, the relationship between Eugénie and Dodin is served up a little at a time, almost in courses. They are lovers but it seems that Dodin would like it to be more. Eugénie stays in complete control. Tran’s direction of their love scenes is like watching a classic painting slowly come to life. Dodin pauses to examine her hesitatingly with sensuality and desire. You know they are about to release their passion, but Tran tantalizes with mystery by leaving that up to your imagination.
Eugénie is determined to do everything in her own time and way, and Dodin knows it. Thinking he can heal her with food, he surprises her with a very special meal, It is intricately prepared which Director Tran shoots a step at a time, presented with a flourish. Dodin is on pins and needles waiting for her reaction which is sublime.
There is a beautifully staged scene reminiscent of a French impressionist painting at a joyous celebration with Eugenie and Dodin and all of their friends. Just as the taste of many dishes, there is bitter along with the sweet. Tran Anh Hung uses Binoche and Magimel in good measure with the many delectable ingredients in his filmmaking pantry to create a beautiful, meaningful, extremely satisfying love story to savor.
IFC 2 hours 15 minutes PG-13
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