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".
Eden (2006)
7.2/10
Director: Michael Hofmann
Starring: Josef Ostendorf, Charlotte Roche, Devid Striesow, Max Rudlinger
A curious and piognant romantic drama that sensitively unfurls the relationship between Eden, a married but lonely waitress, and her hulking and socia... Read more
Dumplings (2004)
6.8/10
Director: Fruit Chan
Starring: Bai Ling, Miriam Yeung Chin, Tony Leung (Ka Fai), Pauline Lau
Originally featured as a short in the anthology '3 Extremes', director Fruit Chan has expanded the concept into this feature-length, satirical treatis... Read more
The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover (1989)
Director: Peter Greenaway
Starring: Richard Bohringer, Michael Gambon, Helen Mirren, Alan Howard, Tim Roth
A feast (in more ways than one) for followers of writer/director Peter Greenaway's work. Set around a high-class English restaurant, it involves the g... Read more
Dawn of the Dead (1978)
8/10
Director: George A Romero
Starring: Scott Reiniger, Ken Foree, Gaylen Ross, David Emge
As modern society is consumed by zombie carnage, four desperate survivors barricade themselves inside a shopping mall to battle the flesh-eating horde... Read more
Eat the Rich (1987)
6/10
Director: Peter Richardson
Starring: Lanah Pellay, Nosher Powell, Fiona Richmond, Kathy Burke, Robbie Coltrane, Katri...
In direct opposition to the advice of Jonathan Swift, (whose 'Modest Proposal' of 1729, suggested the Irish poor sell their children as livestock to e... Read more
Tampopo (1986)
7.4/10
Director: Juzo Itami
Starring: Ken Watanabe, Tsutomu Yamakazi, Nobuko Miyamoto
One of the funniest, most enjoyable, satirical comedies is this treasure of a movie, the plot of which, loosely concerns the quest for the perfect Jap... Read more
Sour Grapes (2016)
7.3/10
Director: Jerry Rothwell, Reuben Atlas
Documentary about the fine and rare wine auction market centering around a counterfeiter who befriended the rich and powerful and sold millions of dol... Read more
Dawn of the Dead ( Blu-ray ) (1978)
8/10
Director: George A Romero
Starring: David Emge, Gaylen Ross, Ken Foree, Scott Reiniger
As modern society is consumed by zombie carnage, four desperate survivors barricade themselves inside a shopping mall to battle the flesh-eating horde... Read more
Mondovino: The Series (2004)
7.1/10
Director: Jonathan Nossiter
Filmmaker Jonathan Nossiter is a serious wine connoisseur as well as a practicing sommelier when he isn't busy behind the camera, and he's combined hi... Read more
Rice Rhapsody (2004)
6.6/10
Director: Kenneth Bi
Starring: Sylvia Chang, Martin Yan, Melanie Laurent, LePham Tan, Craig Toh, Maggie Q
After being abandoned by her husband years earlier, Jen has raised three boys on her own. Her two eldest sons are gay, and fearing she will have no g... Read more