O Sabor da Vida

Um filme histórico sensível sobre o amor pela comida e o amor entre Juliette Binoche e Benoît Magimel, que estão unidos por este amor pela comida. Ambos cozinham com mestria, conseguem falar profundamente sobre a comida e dedicam-se ao comer com prazer de gourmet. Uma boa parte das filmagens consiste em elegantes tomadas em câmara lenta de preparação de comida, outra parte significativa de tomadas de pessoas a comer - os dois ou os seus convidados. Situado quase exclusivamente no interior da casa, o filme tem um enredo esparso e é mantido pela relação finamente retratada e nobremente romântica do casal central, cheia de respeito mútuo. Se gosta de cozinhar, de assar e de banquetes franceses elegantes, acrescente uma ou duas estrelas à minha avaliação. [Cannes FF] (27/05/2023)

A wonderful film about cooking from historic France. The story is set in 1870 and the main character, considered the Napoleon of the culinary arts, cooks for his influential friends with Eugenie, who is his cook but also his mistress, but so far refuses to marry. They also have the daughter from a neighbor who has a great talent for discerning flavors. The first hour is a great gastronomic experience, it is a pleasure to know that they really cook with fresh ingredients that they have to grow, pick and possibly hunt themselves. The second half veers into drama and it got a bit ragged for me, but the ending kicks things up again nicely. I also praise the intelligent dialogue and solid acting performances. Taste does rub off with age, requires a good memory. This wine has everything: elegance, nobility and purity. Impressive France. 75%. (15/04/2024)

From the outside, The Taste of Things is practically the pinnacle of a genre that could be called simply “gastro-porn”. At its core, however, it is also a film that touches on so many interesting and thoughtful themes that all the flavours it evokes during the screening will stay with you for some time to come. A sensitively made drama with masterful performances and I wouldn't be surprised if Benoît Magimel wins the César for the third year in a row. [KVIFF 2023] (13/09/2023)

Uma gastro-pornografia total. O máximo tributo à gastronomia francesa, em que a maioria dos personagens são amadores de deleites e gourmets, chefes de cozinha de topo, conhecedores de alimentos, animais e natureza, e grandes oradores, pelo que também falam de comida, das suas origens e da sua história da forma educada. A maior parte do filme consiste em cenas de preparação dos pratos de luxo e do seu posterior consumo, para as quais o público é preparado na sequência inicial de meia hora, em que apenas se ouvem os sons ambientais da cozinha e os suspiros dos gourmets enquanto se dança entre os pratos e se serve na mesa. A ligação entre os pratos é uma linha romântica terna, em que uma declaração de amor nunca acontece sem um jantar à luz das velas, e o mexer do caldo de legumes ou do molho à Borgonha em conjunto é o prelúdio de momentos íntimos. Um filme em que o amor passa literalmente pelo estômago e em que até a descrição anatómica da ingestão de alimentos soa a poesia de amor. (07/07/2023)

“Worse than starving is having food just for daily fuel without knowing properly what you're eating.” Dodin's friends produce a lot of morsels of wisdom while feasting, and this could easily be another. You won't find any pressurized Boiling Point in late 19th century France, and the masterfully shot first 20 minutes are proof of that. The steam evaporating, the sizzle of the fat oozing out, the pots slowly bubbling and inside them dozens of organic ingredients you could only dream of when shopping in a supermarket. To make all that whirring or rustling stand out, the film also lacks any music. On the cooking and gourmet side, it’s pure masturbation. What is surprising, however, is that even the romantic line in the background of this gastro-paradise does not lag behind the cooking. The central couple in the autumn of their lives manage to sell emotions in the kitchen as well as in the bedroom. In short, Anh Hung Tran has sent out into the world the most French film "from the good old France" in years, and one where you really should have your mind made up about where you're going to eat after the credits roll. (04/11/2023)

This is one big caress to the soul. A beautiful ode to French cuisine, the French language and to love itself. The opening twenty minute or so cooking scene is a masterpiece, so be warned, don't watch it hungry :D In this film, food is the main character, it's either prepared or consumed, or it's very colourfully and poetically assessed and described, in a way that perhaps only the French can do. The production design is amazingly detailed and it wasn't until the end of the film that I noticed that there was no music; the soundtrack is the sounds of the kitchen: the bubbling of boiling water, the sizzling of oil in the pan, the shuffling of pots on the stove, a wooden spoon sliding on a skillet, the crackling of the fire in the fireplace, the clinking of cutlery on plates. Cooking here is not just a tool to fill the stomach and satisfy the appetite, cooking is portrayed as a very important way of communication, to express love and feelings where words are not enough. Similarly, the relationship between Eugenie and Dodin is beautifully and delicately portrayed. They love each other, admire each other, cook for each other with love. This film is like a dream. And rightfully won the Best Director award at Cannes. [Festival de Cannes 2023] (29/05/2023)