The Taste of Things (2023)
A heart-aching romance told through the language of food, The Taste of Things is a culinary delight that basks in the appreciation of food and life.
Meticulous and protracted sequences of food preparation achieve a certain mesmerizing quality. The act of cooking is not ornamental, nor is it momentarily engaged, with the film's action being found in carefully staged and executed sequences capturing the creation of cuisine. We follow all the ingredients on their individual journeys as they slowly converge on the dinner table. Sound plays an important role as pots and pans are scraped, food sizzles, and the fire lets out cracks and snaps. The smell of the kitchen wafts from the screen.
Such is our introduction to our setting and characters. Dodin Bouffant, played by Benoît Magimel, is a renowned chef who is in love with his exceptional cook, Eugénie, played by Juliette Binoche. A meal is being prepared so Dodin can entertain his friends of similarly high status. During this preparation, a key revelation makes itself apparent. Pauline, a young girl helping in the kitchen that day, is something of a savant, able to discern complex recipes from sampling dishes. Her future becomes of interest to both Dodin and Eugénie.
Parts of Dodin's social life serve as distraction and intentionally so. He is engaged by a prince who is eager to impress Dodin. However, Dodin finds his efforts excessive, both in terms of culinary offerings and social graces. Dodin's lack of patience is an expression of where his mind truly is. He does not care about strangers of noble birth or title; he cares about the woman in his kitchen.
More is revealed about Dodin and Eugénie's complex relationship. Dodin's feelings are reciprocated but Eugénie objects to the sort of life she would lead as a wife. Her hesitation is ultimately overcome and they marry, but their happiness is short-lived. Eugénie is suffering from a mysterious illness which takes her life. Dodin is devastated, refusing all human comforts, ridden with anguish. His friends are desperate to help him find solace, feeling that finding him a new cook is key to restoring some level of normalcy.
Pauline's parents reverse their decision, at her insistence. Dodin, in his grief, refuses to train the girl. Shortly after, a carefully framed shot reveals that Dodin has relented and is allowing Pauline to help him select a new cook. This is important because Dodin is not only honoring Eugénie by training Pauline, but he is opening himself up to hope again.
His friend later arrives with an exquisite dish which impresses Dodin; the group immediately leave to meet the cook behind the dish and hopefully fill Dodin's kitchen with life again. A final rotational shot shows the movie's true central character: the kitchen.
A tale of love, gastronomic and otherwise, that's prepared to perfection, The Taste of Things is one meal worth indulging in.