The Taste of Things connects romance with the pleasure and care of cooking. Trần Anh Hùng makes food part of the emotional language of the film, giving the relationship at its center a distinctive form.
In France in 1885, Eugénie prepares elaborate dishes for the gourmet Dodin Bouffant. Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel make the connection between the two characters convincing through a mixture of warmth and subtle attraction.
The attention to the food is extraordinary. Colors, textures and preparation become visually rich without losing their connection to the people doing the work. The care evident in those sequences gives the cooking a meaning beyond decoration.
Trần's direction is fluid and elegant. The camera allows the stories inside and outside the kitchen to develop through detail, while the central performances supply emotional depth. Binoche and Magimel's chemistry is a major part of the film's appeal.
For me, this is an affecting celebration of the senses and the pleasures that people share. Its beauty rests in small gestures as much as elaborate meals. The Taste of Things makes love, food and artistic attention feel closely connected, inviting viewers to notice the care that can exist within an ordinary act.
Watch the film at home
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Using these links does not add to the price you pay.