The Taste of Things
The Taste of Things

Movie spotlight

The Taste of Things

2023
Movie
135 min
French

Set in 1889 France, Dodin Bouffant is a chef living with his personal cook and lover Eugénie. They share a long history of gastronomy and love but Eugénie refuses to marry Dodin, so the food lover decides to do something he has never done before: cook for her.

Insights

IMDb7.1/10
Rotten Tomatoes95%
Metacritic83/100
Google Users95%
Director: Trần Anh HùngGenres: Drama, Romance, Food

Plot Summary

Set in 1880s France, the film centers on Eugénie, a devoted cook who has worked for the renowned gastronome Jean for 20 years. Over time, their professional relationship blossoms into a unique love story, deeply intertwined with the culinary arts. As Eugénie's health declines, Jean and their children endeavor to create a new restaurant to honor her and her extraordinary gastronomic legacy.

Critical Reception

The Taste of Things garnered widespread critical acclaim, particularly for its exquisite cinematography, deliberate pacing, and nuanced portrayal of love and food. Critics lauded its sensory immersion and the powerful performances of its lead actors, often describing it as a visually stunning and deeply moving cinematic experience. Audience reception was generally very positive, appreciating its artistic merit and unique focus.

What Reviewers Say

  • Praised for its visually sumptuous and deeply sensual portrayal of food and love.

  • Lauded for its masterful direction and the compelling performances of Juliette Binoche and Benoît Magimel.

  • Appreciated for its patient, observational style that celebrates the art of cooking and enduring relationships.

Google audience: Google users overwhelmingly loved the film, frequently highlighting its beautiful cinematography, the intimate portrayal of relationships through food, and the slow-burn romance. Many found it a uniquely artistic and satisfying cinematic meal.

Awards & Accolades

Won Best Director at the Cannes Film Festival (2023). Nominated for Best International Feature Film at the Academy Awards (2024).

Fun Fact

Director Trần Anh Hùng spent a year researching and developing the recipes featured in the film with chef Pierre Gagnaire, aiming for historical accuracy and culinary authenticity.

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TMDB Reviews

2 reviews
Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots

Louisa Moore - S...

“The Taste of Things” is a romantic drama that’s also a historically accurate period film about food. Set in 1885, this is a slow moving love letter to the art and style of French cuisine, and director Anh Hung Tran takes great pleasure in ...

CinemaSerf

CinemaSerf

"Dodin" (Benoît Magimel) and "Eugénie" (Juliette Binoche) have a synergy in the kitchen that creates mouthwatering and innovative culinary treats for their friends. She does the cooking, he more the design; she shuns the limelight, he is mo...

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