“Still Safe At Home At the Movies…. Films Featuring Food”

by Stephanie Mardesich

January is a rather monotonous month after the end of the year holiday festivities and flurry; and a time of too many (unfulfilled) resolutions and new year’s projects to begin or fulfill. Take a break, dust off your passport and take a cinematic culinary whirl around the world with movies to tantalize your intellect and senses. Bon appetit!

Tom Jones (UK, Woodfall Film Productions, 1963, 129 min., not rated-though mature content, dir. Tony Richardson)

Based on 18th century novel by Henry Fielding the film was a triumph of its era with ten Academy Award® nominations and four wins. Rollicking and ribald story of the “bastard” Tom Jones (Albert Finney) raised by Squire Allworthy (George Divine). He is rambunctious in every sense, especially with the ladies. His “cousin” Bilful (David Warner) is as bleak as Tom is bold. Eventually Sophie Western (Susannah York) to the county, from living abroad, and falls for Tom though the Squire is angling for her to marry Bilfil. Will true love prevail?

The sensuous scene with Tom and a lusty maiden devouring a repast from roast foul to oysters on the half shell as prelude to the boudoir is legendary, along with unique pacing and comical moments.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0057590/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Annie Hall (USA, Jack Rollins & Charles Joffee Productions, 1977, 93 min., PG13, dir. Woody Allen)

Another curious tale from director Woody Allen about goofy Annie Hall (Diane Keaton) whose quirky charm set a fashion trend of the time; and her suitor neurotic comedian Alvy Singer (Allen, ever neurotic) Typical Allen eclectic cast includes Tony Roberts, Carol Kane, Paul Simon, Colleen Dewhurst, Christopher Walken, Shelly Duvall and more. Film garnered five Academy Award® nods, four wins (“Best Actress” for Keaton) though it’s the lobsters that steal the (kitchen) scene and worth the price of admission.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075686/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Who’s Killing The Great Chefs of Europe? (Germany, Bavaria Film, 1978, 112 min., PG, dir. Ted Kotcheff)

One by one, some of the greatest Chefs in Europe are being killed off in this dark comedy, each murdered in a manner replicating their own “signature” dish. Rather pompous food critic/editor Max Vandervere (Robert Morley) and many self-proclaimed greatest Chefs demand the mystery be solved. One of the chosen is gorgeous Natasha O’Brien (Jacqueline Bisset) known for her exquisite pastry Fast food franchiser Robby Ross (George Segal), Natasha’s former husband, trying to get chefs to endorse a chain of fast food omelets shops is a suspect. Adapted from book by Nan Lyon. Golden Globe nods “Best” actress (Bisset) and actor (Morely)

Babette’s Feast (Denmark, Panorama Film, 1987, 104 min., G, dir. Gabriel Axel)

Refugee from Franco Prussian war Babette Hersant (Stephane Audran) takes shelter in a remote Danish village. She is hired as a maid for two spinster sisters. Eventually she has some good luck and to repay their kindness she prepares an extravagant French feast to honor their deceased father’s 100th birthday, that turns out to be a truly sensual and revitalizing experience for all.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092603/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0

Mystic Pizza (USA, Night Life, Inc./ Samuel Goldwyn, 1988, 104 min., R, dir. Donald Petrie)

Set in lovely seaside Mystic, Connecticut sisters Kat (Annabeth Gish) and Daisy (Julia Roberts) and best friend Jojo (Lili Taylor),all from modest means, work at the local pizza joint famous for it’s delectable “pies” prepared by the brash Leona (Conchita Farrell) who is like “Mother Pizza” to her crew. Kat is destined for the Ivy League going to Yale at summer’s end and takes a side job, to earn more money for school, as “au pair” to care for small daughter of a yuppie couple who are summering in the town. With the mother not present she has big crush on the architect dad Tim (William R. Moses) and her rite of passage is heart wrenching. While sister Daisy falls for posh Charlie (Adam Storke) whose snobbish family considers her the other side of the wharf so to speak. Authentic performances are entertaining and often heart wrenching. You’ll definitely be in the mood for your favorite pizza so order to go!

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0095690/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, Her Lover (Netherlands/UK/France, Elsevier-Vendex Film Beheer (and more), 1989, 124 min., NC17, dir. Peter Greenaway)

Artfully presented bizarre, if not twisted haunting story of Georgina (Helen Mirren) wife of barbaric crime boss Albert (Michael Gambon) who engages in a secretive romance with a gentle bookseller Michael (Alan Howard) between meals at her husband's restaurant. Cuisine, sex, murder, torture, and cannibalism are the exotic fare in this beautifully filmed, but cruelly uncompromising modern allegory. CAUTION: Psychologically violent content, nudity; beware before viewing).

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097108/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

The Scent of Green Papaya (Vietnam, Les Productions Lazennec, 1993, 104 min., dir. Anh Hung Tran)

Moody, rather “dark” story ten year old Vietnamese girl Mui (Man San Lu) who goes to work as a servant for well to do family in Saigon that includes the spouses, three sons and mother-in-law. The marriage is a sham and the husband leaves for a fourth time taking all the funds. He returns ill and dies soon after. Ten years later the family has fallen on hard times. Now about 20 years old Mui (Nu Yên-Khê Tran – wife of the director) leaves to work for a friend of the older son of her “family” who is a concert pianist, engaged to be married, though it’s clearly not a great match and the betrothal ends. Subtle inference and influences lead to a relationship between Mui and the pianist who mentors and nurtures her in a way she’s never known. Nominated for Best Foreign Film Academy Award®. Won Camera D’Or at Cannes Film Festival.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107617/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Eat Drink Man Woman (Taiwan, Ang Lee Productions, 1994, 104 min., not rated, dir. Ang Lee)

Master Chef Chu (Sihung Lung) resides in a large home in Taipei with his three unmarried daughters: convert to Christianity chemistry teacher Jia-Jen (Kuei-Mei Yang), airline exec Jia-Chien (Chien-Lien Wu) and student,who also works in fast food restaurant. Jia-Ning (Yu-Wen Wang). Their lives revolves around work, the love lives of all the family members .and the ritual elaborate weekly Sunday dinner. One of three films of a trilogy that includes Wedding Banquet and Pushing Hands Immense critical and box office success with Academy Award® for Best Foreign Film

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111797/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Julie & Julia (USA, Columbia Pictures, 2009, 123 min., PG, dir. Nora Ephron)

Everything’s better with butter! Or so states culinary writer Julie (Amy Adams) who is determined to prepare every recipe in Julia Child’s (Merle Streep) Mastering The Art Of French Cooking the cookbook that made French cuisine “available” for the average (American) housewife. Unique way of presenting the background of the famous effete Julia McWilliams who grew up with privilege in Pasadena, California, married Paul Child whom she met post WWII after they both served in what became the CIA. He was posted in France and she was “at home” so attended the world renowned Cordon Bleu and the way she took to the cuisine was with a passion beyond pressed duck a l’orange and ambition to make French cuisine “available” to the average housewife.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1135503/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2

No Reservations (USA, Castle Rock Entertainment & more, 2007, 104 min., PG, dir. Scott Hicks)

Master chef, Kate (Catherine Zeta Jones), lives her life and runs the kitchen at upscale 22 Bleecker Restaurant in New York City Manhattan with no-nonsense intensity that captivates and intimidates. She coordinating hundreds of meals with delicate sauces, and seasoning to utter perfection, though her intensity causes her to have conflicts in the kitchen and her boss sends her to therapy.

When Kate's sister is killed in a car accident and her nine-year old daughter Zoe (Abigail Breslin) moves in with her Aunt. Compounding Kate's problems her boss hires a new “rising star” chef Nick (Aaron Eckhart). Kate begins to feel threatened by Nick, at the same time there’s “chemistry” and something begins to simmer on the back burner of romance. With all that is going on in Kate's life falling in love is last thing she anticipates. Strong performances from the trio. Make your reservation at:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0481141/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_14

Chef (USA, 2014, Aldamisa Entertainment, 114 min., R, dir. Jon Favreau)

Head chef Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) quits his restaurant job and buys a food truck in an effort to reclaim his creative verve, while re-connecting his estranged family. Stellar cast includes: Robert Downey, Jr., Scarlet Johanson, Dustin Hoffman, John Leguizamo, Oliver Platt among others.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2883512/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

The Hundred Foot Journey

(USA/India/United Arab Emarites, Amblin Entertainment/Dreamworks, 2014, 122 min., PG, dir. Lasse Holstrom)

The family of talented cook, Hassan Kadam (Manish Dayal), has a life filled with both culinary delights and profound loss. Drifting through Europe after fleeing political violence in India that killed the family restaurant business and their mother, the Kadams arrive in France. Once there, a chance auto accident and the kindness of a young woman, Marguerite (Charlotte Le Bon), in the village of Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val inspires Papa Kadam (Om Puri) to set up an Indian restaurant there. Unfortunately, this puts the Kadams in direct competition with the snobbish Madame Mallory's acclaimed haute cuisine establishment across the street where Marguerite also works as a sous-chef. The resulting rivalry eventually escalates in personal intensity until it goes too far. In response, there is a bridging of sides initiated by Hassan,

Marguerite, and Madame Mallory (Dame Helen Mirren), both professional and personal, that encourages an

understanding that will change both sides forever. Golden Globe nod for Mirren “Best Performance by “Actress Motion Picture or Musical.”

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2980648/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

More titles to consider:

Five Easy Pieces (1970) Jack Nicholson ordering breakfast scene is “classic”

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0065724/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Splash (1984) Madison the mermaid eats whole lobster shell and all.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088161/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Big Night (1996) Italian brothers own restaurant in NJ in 1950s.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115678/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Waitress (2014) Pie’s the thing.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473308/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

When Harry Met Sally (1989) How she orders her sandwich and “I’ll have what she’s having” unforgettable moments.

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098635/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Stephanie Mardesich, a native of San Pedro from a family who arrived in the harbor area over 100 years ago. An alumna of U.S.C. School of Cinematic Arts; founder-director of the LA Harbor International Film Festival; credited journalist and public relations consultant, she launched "Cinema Stephanie" film critique blogette in 2017. More recently, she created "Eclectic Culture" lifestyle stories and reviews blog. She is also co-producer with Jack Baric (S.P. native and R.P.V. resident) of the oral history project Stories of Los Angeles Harbor Area: For Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow (SOLAHA) - Volume II debuted in March 2020.

For more see:

(to look up films) www.imdb.com

www.laharborfilmfest.com( Cinema Stephanie blogette)

www.storieslaharborarea.com (histories/stories)