The Taste of Things
Reviews
CinemaSerf
"Dodin" (Benoît Magimel) and "Eugénie" (Juliette Binoche) have a synergy in the kitchen that creates mouthwatering and innovative culinary treats for their friends. She does the cooking, he more the design; she shuns the limelight, he is more gregarious - but it's a professional relationship that has worked well for the last two decades. It's probably fair to say that they are both a bit slow off the mark, but gradually now their relationship begins to become one of a more personal, intimate, nature but she is still uncertain. How to win her round? Well he starts to prepare delicacies to tempt both her palate and her heart. The path of truth love never runs smooth, though, and soon their dynamic is facing a testing time that will likely see unwelcome change for all concerned. What I actually liked about this film is that there's not a great deal of dialogue. It looks great and the two actors genuinely convince as they prepare their gourmet dishes using ingredients and techniques that are way more fascinating than the unfolding drama between their characters. You can almost smell the food! It also doesn't shy away from some of the culinary curiosities of rustic French cuisine, so be prepared for a few dishes that might not do for your appetite what they do for those on screen, but by two hours in I found myself genuinely invested in what I was watching - and very glad I'd eaten first. Cooking is an art form; so is good cinema - we get both here in abundance.
Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots
“The Taste of Things” is a romantic drama that’s also a historically accurate period film about food. Set in 1885, this is a slow moving love letter to the art and style of French cuisine, and director Anh Hung Tran takes great pleasure in his celebration and joy of all things gastronomy. Famous restaurant owner Dodin Bouffant (Benoît Magimel) has relied on his esteemed personal cook Eugénie (Juliette Binoche) for over two decades, admiring her natural culinary talents and creating inspired dishes alongside her in his palatial home’s kitchen. Since the pair have spent so much time together sharing the same stove and an unyielding passion for food, they’ve grown quite fond of each other. The feelings that have developed between Dodin and Eugénie are a bit complicated, and his marriage proposals have always been quickly dismissed by the freedom-loving woman who has no intention of any sort of romantic commitment. But as they grow older, Eugenie may be finally warming up to the idea. It’s a sparse and simple love story that’s mostly about food. The first twenty minutes of the film show nothing but the characters cooking and preparing dishes in the kitchen. There’s no musical score, just the sounds of a kitchen like the sizzle of a sear, the rattle of an iron skillet, the bubbling of boiling water, and the rhythmic chop of a knife. This is a film that’s comprised mainly of cooking and eating scenes, aimed at foodies who will inherently have a greater tolerance for watching a repetitive cycle of cook-eat-savor-repeat. It’s not boring, but it does feel indulgent. As would be expected in a film about cuisine, the food is drop-dead gorgeous. The culinary artistry and food photography is gorgeous and mouthwatering, and everything from the saucing to plating is done with a beauty and precision that honors traditional techniques. The characters cook everything from the fanciest to the most simple dishes, which drives home the idea that these aren’t food snobs, but true connoisseurs. The casting is spot-on, and it’s delightful to see a story that seamlessly blends the romance between food and people that features more mature actors. Binoche and Magimel make a charming and believable pair, and you’ll hope they do finally end up together in marriage. “The Taste of Things” is lovely, but in order to get the most satisfaction and enjoyment from the film, it helps to have a love and appreciation for food that runs deeper than the average person. By: Louisa Moore / SCREEN ZEALOTS
Movie Recommendation
Promises2022-01-26Clémence, the fearless mayor of a town near Paris, is completing the final term of her political career. With her faithful right-hand man Yazid, she has long fought for this town plagued by inequality, unemployment and slumlords. However, when Clémence is approached to become Minister, her ambition arises, questioning her devotion and commitment to her citizens. Will her political integrity and election promises survive her newly found ambition?More...
All to Play For2023-11-21Sylvie lives with her two children whom she’s raising on her own. One evening, there’s an accident, and her youngest son is removed from her care. Sylvie must subsequently fight to get her son back and to keep herself afloat.More...
The Monk and the Gun2023-10-17An American travels to Bhutan searching for a valuable antique rifle and crosses paths with a young monk who wanders through the serene mountains, instructed by his teacher to make things right again.More...
Taxi to the Dark Side2008-01-18An in-depth look at the torture practices of the United States in Afghanistan, Iraq and Guantanamo Bay, focusing on an innocent taxi driver in Afghanistan who was tortured and killed in 2002.More...
Omen2023-11-15Between Brussels, Kinshasa and Lubumbashi, Augure borrows from magic realism to paint a portrait of “undesirables” and “sorcerers” through the intertwined stories of protagonists of different genders and generations, confronted with the prejudice and suspicion of those around them.More...
Stranger Eyes2024-11-14After the mysterious disappearance of their baby daughter, a young couple receives strange videos and realizes someone has been filming their daily life — even in their most intimate moments. The police set up surveillance around their home to catch the voyeur but the family starts to crumble as secrets unravel under the scrutiny of eyes watching them from all sides.More...
Out of Control2025-02-19Julien and Marie have enjoyed 15 years of seemingly stable marriage until Anaëlle, Julien’s childhood flame, returns. Her sudden presence awakens old insecurities in Marie, who begins to doubt Julien’s devotion and question her self-worth. Amid this emotional storm, Marie is drawn to Thomas, a charismatic stranger who offers her the validation she craves.More...
Uman – The Perfect Man2022-06-22Florence, a lawyer overwhelmed by her family life, decides to buy a humanoid robot with a perfect physique. The robot meets all her expectations: maintain the house, take care of the children, and more... By maliciously disrupting their daily routine, the robot also arouses the jealousy of her self-centered careless husband, Franck, a second-class actor who suddenly realizes he must make some efforts not to lose the love of his wife.More...
The Witness2025-04-25In Iran, the retired dance teacher Tarlan witnesses her friend Rana's murder by her husband, who is an important government figure. When the police refuse to investigate, Tarlan must decide whether to bow to political pressure or risk her reputation and livelihood in pursuit of justice.More...
Table for Six 22024-02-09Belief in our own blessings can bring us good fortune, but what is true fortune? Fortune and misfortune, love and hate, what is their ultimate definitions? One family, three couples, three weddings. After they decided to move on, what further challenges await them? Marriage isn’t just about two individuals; it involves a whole family of aunts, uncles, and cousins.More...
From Italy with Amore2022-10-08When health and wellness journalist, Ariel Moss catches a glimpse of what she thinks is her dream man at a local eatery, she will stop at nothing to get to know him better. In her quest to see him again, she meets handsome restaurateur, Daniel, who helps her realize that maybe the way to her heart is through her stomach.More...
Moriah's Lighthouse2022-06-18Moriah is a woodworking artisan living in a French, seaside town, who dreams of restoring the local lighthouse. When Ben, an American architect, comes to town, it seems as though her dreams will never become reality after she learns he’s there to give the lighthouse a makeover… but for another buyer.More...
Prince of Broadway2010-09-03A New York street hustler specializing in name-brand knock-offs finds his highly profitable game suddenly complicated when his ex-girlfriend shows up toting the son he never knew he had.More...
Birds of Prey1968-04-061938, a Central America country. A Frenchman who goes by the name "Le Rital" is hired to take out the local dictator. Young Chico is assigned as his right-hand man, whom he impresses. Will a friendship form between them?More...
Youth (Spring)2023-11-10This film was shot between 2014 and 2019 in the town of Zhili, a district of Huzhou City in Zhejiang province, China. Zhili is home to over 18,000 privately-run workshops producing children's clothes, mostly for the domestic market, but some also for export. The workshops employ around 300,000 migrant workers, chiefly from the rural provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, Anhui, Jiangxi, Henan and Jiangsu.More...
Stella Mosefund2025-05-13Experimental short film about alter ego Stella Mosefund, a wide eyed girl who doesn't smile. Filmed in the style of audition self tapes and vignettes.More...
Any And Every Which Way2010-02-27Sexy Momoko turns tricks in her taxi to boost business, until she's finally discovered by her employer. Running from the authorities, Momoko abandons her cab to begin life as a fugitive, accompanied by her most recent customer.More...
Sue Bird: In the Clutch2024-01-24In her 21-year professional career, WNBA basketball legend Sue Bird has won five Olympic gold medals and become the most successful point guard to ever play the game. Alongside her fiancée, U.S. soccer star Megan Rapinoe, Sue confronts her next challenge: retiring from the only life she’s ever known.More...
The Last Station2009-09-04A historical drama that illustrates Russian author Leo Tolstoy's struggle to balance fame and wealth with his commitment to a life devoid of material things. The Countess Sofya, wife and muse to Leo Tolstoy, uses every trick of seduction on her husband's loyal disciple, whom she believes was the person responsible for Tolstoy signing a new will that leaves his work and property to the Russian people.More...
The Spider Within: A Spider-Verse Story2023-06-12After a particularly challenging day, Miles experiences a panic attack that forces him to confront the manifestations of his anxiety and learn that reaching out for help can be just as brave an act as protecting his city from evil.More...
Similar Movies
The Cook, the Thief, ...
1989-10-13The wife of an abusive criminal finds solace in the arms of a kind regular guest in her husband's restaurant.Midnight in the Garde...
1997-11-21A visiting city reporter's assignment suddenly revolves around the murder trial of a local millionaire, whom he befriends.Ali
2001-12-10In 1964, a brash, new pro boxer, fresh from his Olympic gold medal victory, explodes onto the scene: Cassius Clay. Bold and outspoken, he cuts an entirely new image for African Americans in sport with his proud public self-confidence and his unapologetic belief that he is the greatest boxer of all time. Yet at the top of his game, both Ali's personal and professional lives face the ultimate test.The Thin Red Line
1998-12-23The story of a group of men, an Army Rifle company called C-for-Charlie, who change, suffer, and ultimately make essential discoveries about themselves during the fierce World War II battle of Guadalcanal. It follows their journey, from the surprise of an unopposed landing, through the bloody and exhausting battles that follow, to the ultimate departure of those who survived.True Romance
1993-09-09Clarence marries hooker Alabama, steals cocaine from her pimp, and tries to sell it in Hollywood, while the owners of the coke try to reclaim it.Held for Ransom
2019-08-29HELD FOR RANSOM tells the true story of Danish photojournalist Daniel Rye who was held hostage for 398 days in Syria by the terror organization ISIS along with several other foreign nationals including the American journalist, James Foley. The film follows Daniel’s struggle to survive in captivity, his friendship with James, and the nightmare of the Rye family back home in Denmark as they try to do everything in their power to save their son. At the center of this crisis, we find hostage negotiator, Arthur, who plays a pivotal role in securing Daniel’s release.Transamerica
2005-02-14A transgender woman takes an unexpected journey when she learns that she had a son, now a teenage runaway hustling on the streets of New York.The Usual Suspects
1995-07-19Held in an L.A. interrogation room, Verbal Kint attempts to convince the feds that a mythic crime lord, Keyser Soze, not only exists, but was also responsible for drawing him and his four partners into a multi-million dollar heist that ended with an explosion in San Pedro harbor – leaving few survivors. Verbal lures his interrogators with an incredible story of the crime lord's almost supernatural prowess.Umami
2023-02-09Following a near-death experience France's leading chef throws himself into a quest seeking the flavor that has confounded his life since he was defeated by a Japanese chef's bowl of noodles as a young man.Léon: The Professiona...
1994-09-14Léon, the top hit man in New York, has earned a rep as an effective "cleaner". But when his next-door neighbors are wiped out by a loose-cannon DEA agent, he becomes the unwilling custodian of 12-year-old Mathilda. Before long, Mathilda's thoughts turn to revenge, and she considers following in Léon's footsteps.Stand by Me
1986-08-08After learning that a boy their age has been accidentally killed near their rural homes, four Oregon boys decide to go see the body. On the way, Gordie, Vern, Chris and Teddy encounter a mean junk man and a marsh full of leeches, as they also learn more about one another and their very different home lives. Just a lark at first, the boys' adventure evolves into a defining event in their lives.Unicorn
2017-10-06A young girl of 13 lives with her mother on an isolated property. They are awaiting the return of their father and husband. But instead, another man appears, transforming the relationship between the mother and daughter. Based on two short stories by Brazilian poet Hilda Hilst.The Call of the Wild
2020-02-19Buck is a big-hearted dog whose blissful domestic life is turned upside down when he is suddenly uprooted from his California home and transplanted to the exotic wilds of the Yukon during the Gold Rush of the 1890s. As the newest rookie on a mail delivery dog sled team—and later its leader—Buck experiences the adventure of a lifetime, ultimately finding his true place in the world and becoming his own master.The Hurricane
1999-09-17The story of Rubin "Hurricane" Carter, a boxer wrongly imprisoned for murder, and the people who aided in his fight to prove his innocence.The Insider
1999-10-28A research chemist comes under personal and professional attack when he decides to appear in a 60 Minutes exposé on Big Tobacco.The Family Stone
2005-12-15An uptight, conservative businesswoman accompanies her boyfriend to his eccentric and outgoing family's annual Christmas celebration and finds that she's a fish out of water in their free-spirited way of life.The Flight of the Pho...
1965-12-15A cargo aircraft crashes in a sandstorm in the Sahara with less than a dozen men on board. One of the passengers is an airplane designer who comes up with the idea of ripping off the undamaged wing and using it as the basis for a replacement aircraft they need to build before their food and water run out.Fever Pitch
2005-04-06When Ben Wrightman, a young teacher, begins dating pretty businesswoman Lindsey Meeks, the two don't seem to have a lot of the same interests, but they fall in love, regardless. Their romance goes well until baseball season begins, and Lindsey soon realizes that Ben is completely obsessed with the Boston Red Sox. Though she tries to understand Ben's passionate team loyalty, eventually it threatens to end their otherwise happy relationship.A Small Paradise
2024-09-03A Small Paradise is a film documentary about the Greek island Kos and the people there. It is a cinematic and nostalgic journey. In the film documentary, you meet people of different backgrounds and sexes. They share their thoughts and opinions about the island and other topics. You get captivated by the small interviews, the music, and the personal stories.He Got Game
1998-05-01A basketball player's father must try to convince him to go to a college so he can get a shorter prison sentence.