LA PASSION DE DODIN BOUFFANT

The assumed absence of music makes room for spectacular sound and sight, at every turn of a spoon, and turns many a sequence into its own stand-alone miniature climax.

A film still from La Passion de Dodin Bouffant (2023) de Trần Anh Hùng

This film centres a formidable nineteenth century house kitchen, in the French country side. Omelette, Pot-au-Feu, Carré de Veau, Laitue Braisée, Velouté de Petits pois, Écrevisses en quenelles, vol-au-vent, bisques, gratins—it never ends, including stunning wine selections. Craft sensuousness, seductive clairs-obscurs and the accuracy of gestures. The assumed absence of music makes room for spectacular sound and sight, at every turn of a spoon, and turns many a sequence into its own stand-alone miniature climax. Intimate relationship with skill, garden work, a dedication to food preparation with such care. Evoking the less typically called upon senses with movie theater is surprisingly stimulating. All is devoted to pleasure, creating dishes and serving things well. Gourmet Dodin Bouffant really existed and is the subject of the book on which the film is based. Directeur gastronomique Pierre Gagnaire created the menus, and guided every possible ingredient into being seeded, soaked, kneaded, pinched, shelled, whipped, slashed, stewed, braised, boiled, dressed, or garnished. Then handsomely eaten. Plot is an old fashioned period romance between Benoît Magimel and Juliette Binoche but story is not why I take note to remember the performance.