‘The Taste of Things’ Movie Review: A Delicious Romantic Odyssey That Will Leave You Hungrier Than Ever
Photo from Carole Bethuel/IFC Films
From Jeff Nelson
Trần Anh Hùng's The Taste of Things is an outstanding historical romance that will leave your stomach grumbling with envious hunger and your heart feeling remarkably fuller. France selected the film as its official entry in the Best International Feature category at the 2024 Oscars over Justine Triet’s Anatomy of a Fall in a surprise move. Hopefully this decision will boost the visibility of Hùng's phenomenal The Taste of Things, which deserves as much love as it permeates into its world one dish at a time.
Set in 19th century France, Dodin Bouffant (Benoît Magimel) is an esteemed chef, who molds all of his time around the culinary arts. He develops a deep romantic love with his personal cook, Eugénie (Juliette Binoche), who shares his passion for gastronomy. However, she refuses to take their relationship to the next level, as he tries to win her love by turning the tables and cooking for her.
Hùng establishes his status quo in a beautiful kitchen that works as a well-oiled machine, running smoothly to produce showstopping dishes. Pauline (Bonnie Chagneau-Ravoire) is a guest, acting as the initial introduction into this world of fine dining. The outsider becomes an insider, as Dodin and Eugénie see her potential in the world of gastronomy, offering her an apprenticeship. Meanwhile, the other end of this art form exists in the dining hall, where Dodin and his dinner guests indulge in conversation over the beautiful dishes and fine wines.
The Taste of Things develops two romances that unfold simultaneously. The first is between Dodin and Eugénie, which is sweet, albeit a tad underbaked. The second is that of the ensemble of characters and the art of cooking, which permeates every frame with undeniable beauty and tenderness. Hùng’s screenplay is imbued with a romantic fervor toward food that perceives it as both a science and an art, where the conversations surrounding menus roll off the tongue like poetry.
Binoche is marvelous as Eugénie, providing the character with the required confidence in the kitchen, as well as the uncertainty in her romance. She’s incredibly empathetic, generating rivers of pathos with few words. Magimel is totally convincing as Dodin, capturing his devotion to the culinary arts. Together, their romance doesn’t always blossom, but as individual performances, they’re quite impressive.
Jonathan Ricquebourg’s warm cinematography breathes life into every scene, emphasizing the love going into every step of the cooking process. Toma Baqueni’s stellar production design gives the kitchen and the dining hall a whole lot of texture, causing the picture to feel fuller.
The Taste of Things is an exquisite palate cleanser that enriches the heart, mind, and soul. Hùng’s delectable culinary tale is carefully constructed, wholeheartedly poignant, and supremely satisfying. The human romance doesn’t quite earn all of its emotional swings, but the love story that manifests between the characters and gastronomy is simply divine. It’s one of the very best films of the year, and you’ll never leave a movie feeling hungrier than you will here.
Rating: 4.5/5
The Taste of Things hits limited theaters on February 9th, 2024 before it expands on February 14th, 2024. It will have an Oscar-qualifying run in December 2023.
