Given the amount of film references I’ve made throughout the past almost full year of blogging, it should come as no surprise that I am a HUGE film buff. Movies about food are a favorite subject and film is really able to showcase all aspects of the food world in dynamic and beautiful ways.
If you’re still seeking some gift ideas, or needing some new inspiration for yourself, these movies about food are a great place to start!
Even if you think animation isn’t for you, I would urge you to give this film a shot. It’s such a brilliantly told story, with very universal themes. It’s refreshing, humorous, and has a delightful ending.
This movie came out this year and it’s a great piece for inspiring one to be bold in cooking! A bit heavy handed in trying to appeal to a generation so used to social media, it does at times feel like a two hour commercial for Twitter. But the food scenes are vibrant, energetic, and it teaches a great lesson about finding yourself again after losing your way in a corporate, structured world. And despite it’s compeltely unnessessary, sappy ending, it is a fun film.
Easily my favorite food film on this list. It expertly balances the story of food with the story of people, and interjects just enough realism into the overarching whimsy of the story. The approach to life that the title character, Vianne, has is inspiring and something I’ve tried to emulate. And then of course there’s Johnny Depp at the heels of his Pirates of the Caribbean success, playing an Irish river gypsy…so that’s awesome.
Almost tied with Chocolat as my favorite movie about food. It’s absolutely delicious, entertaining, funny and well acted. The story is simple and beautiful about how two people found themselves through food. As in Chocolat and Like Water for Chocolate, it centers around strong, intelligent and determined women, which is wonderful to see. My one tip about this film? It’s better than the book. I was inspired to read the book after seeing it and was very disappointed.
Como ague para chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate) (1992)
This is one of the most erotic films about food you may ever encounter. Based on the novel by Laura Esquivel, it delves into the magical, mystical way food can reveal and satiate desire. It makes the ritual of eating into a sensual experience, making one think while watching it that there is no way to eat unless your closing your eyes, chewing slowly, and having a relationship solely and only in that moment, with taste, texture and aroma.
Ok, so not about food exactly, but there is an intrinsic connection between food and wine. This fascinating documentary follows a small group of candidates on their way to become Master Sommolies, the highest rank there is. Hearing them talk about constantly exercising their senses of smell for different foods and spices, in order to be able to identify aromas in wine, made me want to do the same.
The only one on this list that I haven’t actually seen, but have had highly recommended to me. I am in that rare camp that doesn’t actually like sushi all that much, but I think after seeing this I might change my mind!
The book on which this film is based, by Elizabeth Gilbert, had a profound effect on me when I read it during my college years and I was actually quite excited when I heard they were making a movie. While it does justice to the story and is beautifully shot, there’s no way a two hour film could possibly convey the depth, sorrow, joy and individual discovery found the in the books pages. Less a story solely about food and more on travel and self discovery, I’d still be remiss not to mention it because food is a major part of the journey.
Did your favorite movie about food make the list? What else would you add?
Eat Well, Travel Well ~ Samantha