In Tran Anh Hung's “The Taste of Things,” the initial sequence spans a duration of 38 minutes. It showcases two individuals, accompanied by their two young assistants, meticulously preparing a meal in a spacious rural kitchen. The meal itself is intricate, with multiple courses being simultaneously crafted. Throughout the scene, the camera gracefully glides through the kitchen, closely following the characters as they add a handful of vegetables to a sizzling pan on the stove, then circling back to capture the chopping happening on a nearby table. Watch latest films and Tv shows online only on Afdah in hd quality.
The camera remains in constant motion. For the entirety of those 38 minutes, we are engrossed in observing these individuals cook, and naturally, we find ourselves salivating over the delectable meal taking shape before our very eyes. This particular scene is an extraordinary accomplishment, to the extent that witnessing the guests in the dining room relishing each bite of the food without uttering a single word brings immense satisfaction. The pleasure derived from this experience is truly tangible.
In this particular scene, the relationships between the characters are revealed through their actions rather than their words. It's truly satisfying to understand the characters by observing their behavior. Without any dialogue, a significant amount of information is conveyed. Dodin Bouffant, who is in charge of the meal, is also cooking himself and manages to spend time with his guests. Eugénie, his partner in the kitchen, takes pleasure in her work and her face radiates with joy, indicating the success of a long day's hard work. She is not just a skilled cook, but an artist as well.
The two teenage assistants, Violette and Pauline, work diligently and silently. Pauline, although new to the kitchen and still young, possesses an extraordinary talent for gastronomy. She can identify all the ingredients in a broth simply by tasting it. Dodin and Eugénie acknowledge and nurture her gift.
“The Taste of Things” is a film that is based on the popular French novel The Passionate Epicure (1920) by Marcel Rouff. It showcases numerous scenes of delectable cooking, particularly in the beginning, which sets the rhythm for the entire film. The length of the scene goes unnoticed due to the soothing and pleasurable experience it provides. Throughout the history of “food movies,” there have been many, but none have presented meals as visually delicious as the ones prepared by Dodin and Eugénie. The aroma of their broths, pastries, and chickens is almost palpable.
