The Taste of Things [La passion de Dodin Bouffant] – Ujazdowski Castle Centre for Contemporary Art

Can passion have a taste? Vietnamese-French director Trần Anh Hùng (Cyclo, The Scent of Green Papaya) proves that it definitely can! The Taste of Things (awarded the Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival) draws us into the world of fine French cuisine, but most of all it shows with sensuality that the deepest feelings can be expressed through dishes, flavours and aromas.

The protagonists of this film, set in the second half of the 19th century, are the excellent cook Eugénie (Juliette Binoche) and the renowned gourmet and connoisseur Dodin (Benoît Magimel). For twenty years, they have been cooking together, creating recipes and throwing grand banquets. They communicate mainly through food, preparing wonderful broths, sauces, quail, turbot, vegetables from their own garden or spectacular desserts. The world they create together helps them get through life’s most difficult moments, and their relationship evolves over the years.

Loosely basing the script on Marcel Rouff’s novel and inspired by the authentic character Anthelme Brillat-Savarin, Trần Anh Hùng combines romance with poetic slow cinema. The famous Frech chef Pierre Gagnaire is responsible for the culinary setting of the film. Not since Babette’s Feast has there been such a tasty film in cinemas. Bon appétit!