Food in Film
Food has often been essential to cinema. A catalyst which brings people together, it can be used for dramatic confrontation, as a comic device or even a metaphor for the meaning of life. Preparing, presenting and consuming food can evoke a mood that is sumptuous, homely, seductive, disgusting or just plain funny. Eloquent in conveying complex messages, food is a perfect vehicle for expressing the subtext in drama and comedy and for revealing intricate aspects about class, emotional states or gender. Sometimes, as in the movies "Babette's Feast" and "Tampopo", it is the real star. In this compilation below, we take the high ground and take a wide view of the social and symbolic meaning of food in film..
Right: Scene from Gabriel Axel's triumphant "Babette's Feast".
McLibel (1998)
6.8/10
Director: Ken Loach, Franny Armstrong
Starring: Dave Morris, Helen Steele, John Safran, Rob Newman
When McDonald's decided to sue two young English protestors for libel, they didn't expect to be in court for years on end. The true story of England's... Read more
Monty Python's The Meaning of Life (1983)
Director: Terry Jones
Starring: Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Michael Palin, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jone...
The Monty Python team embark on the holy grail of human understanding with a series of sketches aimed at discovering the meaning of life itself. Inclu... Read more
Tasting Menu (2013)
5.7/10
Director: Roger Gual
Starring: Fionnula Flanagan, Stephen Rea, Togo Igawa, Jan Cornet, Vicenta Noongo, Andrew T...
Set in the idyllic cove of Costa Brava in the Mediterranean, this Spanish culinary romantic comedy tells the story of a broken-up couple who decide to... Read more
Macbeth - Shakespeare Retold (2005)
Director: Mark Brozel
Starring: James McAvoy, Keeley Hawes, Joseph Millson, Toby Kebbell, Vincent Regan, Richard...
Shakespeare's Scottish play is skilfully transferred to a modern day restaurant where chef Joe Macbeth (James McAvoy) has worked hard to make Duncan D... Read more
Apron Strings (2008)
6.6/10
Director: Sima Urale
Starring: Laila Rouass, Scott Wills, Jennifer Ludlam, Nathan Whitaker, Leela Patel, Peter...
Samoan-born Aucklander Sima Urale makes her feature debut with this light-hearted, multi-cultural family drama exploring the fine line between motheri... Read more
Eat Pray Love (2010)
5.7/10
Director: Ryan Murphy
Starring: Billy Crudup, Javier Bardem, Julia Roberts, Richard Jenkins, James Franco, Viola...
Believing there's more to life than a husband, house and career, Liz Gilbert (Julia Roberts) finds herself with a new appetite for life in this inspir... Read more
My Dinner with Andre (1981)
7.8/10
Director: Louis Malle
Starring: Andre Gregory, Wallace Shawn
Nearly two hours of dinner conversation between New York avant-garde theatre director Andre Gregory and playwright Wallace Shawn becomes a fascinating... Read more
Alive (1993)
7.1/10
Director: Frank Marshall
Starring: Ethan Hawke, Vincent Spano, Josh Hamilton
Stirring true-life adventure saga about the horrific 1972 plane crash in the Andes Mountains where, after struggling against the elements and on the v... Read more
Pie in the Sky: Series 1 (1994)
7.6/10
Starring: Richard Griffiths, Maggie Steed, Malcolm Sinclair
Detective Inspector Henry Crabbe (Richard Griffiths) dreams of running his own restaurant, but his superiors are reluctant to allow him to retire. Whe... Read more
The Trip to Italy (2014)
6.6/10
Director: Michael Winterbottom
Starring: Steve Coogan, Rob Brydon
The trip is back for a whole new slate of impression competitions. Filmmaker Michael Winterbottom reteams with comedy duo Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon... Read more