Weekend Cooking/Paris in July: The Taste of Things (La Passion de Dodin Bouffant)

For a couple of years now, I have tried to see at least one movie at each international film festival as it comes to town. For example, recently I watched a couple of Spanish movies, and this weekend I am going to see a Danish movie. Earlier this year, it was the French Film Festival and I managed to see three movies, one of which was The Taste of Things, also known as The Pot-Au-Feu.

The Taste of Things is set in 1899 and tells the story of a passionate gourmand, by the name of Dodin Bouffant and his housekeeper Eugénie. A gournand is defined on Wikipedia as someone "who takes great pleasure and interest in consuming particularly good food and drink."  

For the first 30 minutes or so there is very little dialogue in The Taste of Things. Instead we witness a complicated but well choreographed dance as Eugénie, Dodin, her assistant Violette and a young protege named Pauline work together prepare a lavish, multiple course feast for Dodin and his group of foodie friends. During this whole scene. the only words are directional ("put the veal in the oven" for example. Other than that we watch as vegetables are chopped, broths are made, fish are poached, and love and passion are expressed in the form of food. It is food porn at it's finest.

However, whilst there is a lot of cooking in this movie, it is more than that. Dodin and Eugénie are lovers and have been for many years. He has asked her multiple times to become his wife, but she is content with life as it is and doesn't see the need to change. The life that they have is very comfortable. They live in a gorgeous chateau, where Eugénie oversees the growing of the freshest ingredients.

No matter how content people may be, time passes and things change, and so it is for Dodin and Eugénie. When the latter becomes unwell, it is Dodin who takes care of her and who has to face into a life without her.

This movie was the French submission for the Oscars last year and won a couple of French awards as well, and you can see why. It is a beautifully shot, very emotive story and the two stars shine on the screen. It is interesting that Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel are former partners and share a daughter. I am not sure I could work with my ex for months on end. Actually, I 100% could not work with my ex under any circumstance. 

If you like food, or you like French movies, or indeed if you like both, watch this movie!

I am sharing this post with my fellow participants in Paris in July, hosted by Emma at Words and Peace.

Weekly meals

Saturday - Out for dinner
Sunday -Chicken Kiev, Mash, Broccoli and Gravy
Monday - Beef and Broccoli Noodles
Tuesday - Work dinner
Wednesday - Chicken Stir Fry and rice
Thursday - Butter chicken and rice
Friday - Takeaway

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page