Ratings: 7.6/10
Film Class: C+
Genre: Comedy Drama
A well-to-do Indian family living in Mumbai is forced to start life anew in another country after a merciless riot took their house and mother away. Once owning a chain of restaurants, the family (of 6) is now left with only one another, a rundown vehicle, and some spare cash. After the brakes of their SUV failed them along a French countryside, they are rescued by a local lady who helps them back to her town, treating them with great hospitality. There, their father chances upon a place for sale, just opposite a Michelin star restaurant which he took interest in. Despite the opposing views from his children, he obstinately buys the place and hence begins, the so-called “Hundred-Foot Journey”. What follows is a comic rivalry between the 2 houses, an unlikely friendship, an unlikely romance, and a young man’s goal of chasing the stars, the Michelin stars.
*spoilers ahead* Despite the lack of a direct explanation or reference to the title, I believe it implicitly refers to the long journey taken by not the family, but by this young man, a son, a brother and an extremely talented chef towards his dream of creating dishes filled with soul, and memories. As he inches closer to culinary perfection, he finds himself lost among the stars.
Well, that’s the back part, for the first 3/4s of the movie, it mostly revolves around the strong-willed father, the sharp-tongued Michelin star chef (Helen Mirren), the ambitious young man, and the good natured French girl. A more all-rounded built up, more engaging, and more suspenseful. Even though I kinda knew what to expect, it wasn’t a matter of “how”, it was a matter of “when”. And the “when” feels like a seduction of taste buds. Speaking of which, there was a particular scene which really whet my appetite, and I could, no kidding here… almost… almost smell curry (I did skip dinner for this movie though…).
A beautiful story about East meets West, foodie-style, a fusion of culinary ideas, cultures, and more importantly, it deceptively “mocks” the Michelin stars. Either that, or it’s the director’s way of saying that one can’t have the best of everything; To chase perfection, sacrifices have to be made. It depends on one's priorities, just like taste, subjective.
Film Class: C+
Genre: Comedy Drama
A well-to-do Indian family living in Mumbai is forced to start life anew in another country after a merciless riot took their house and mother away. Once owning a chain of restaurants, the family (of 6) is now left with only one another, a rundown vehicle, and some spare cash. After the brakes of their SUV failed them along a French countryside, they are rescued by a local lady who helps them back to her town, treating them with great hospitality. There, their father chances upon a place for sale, just opposite a Michelin star restaurant which he took interest in. Despite the opposing views from his children, he obstinately buys the place and hence begins, the so-called “Hundred-Foot Journey”. What follows is a comic rivalry between the 2 houses, an unlikely friendship, an unlikely romance, and a young man’s goal of chasing the stars, the Michelin stars.
*spoilers ahead* Despite the lack of a direct explanation or reference to the title, I believe it implicitly refers to the long journey taken by not the family, but by this young man, a son, a brother and an extremely talented chef towards his dream of creating dishes filled with soul, and memories. As he inches closer to culinary perfection, he finds himself lost among the stars.
Well, that’s the back part, for the first 3/4s of the movie, it mostly revolves around the strong-willed father, the sharp-tongued Michelin star chef (Helen Mirren), the ambitious young man, and the good natured French girl. A more all-rounded built up, more engaging, and more suspenseful. Even though I kinda knew what to expect, it wasn’t a matter of “how”, it was a matter of “when”. And the “when” feels like a seduction of taste buds. Speaking of which, there was a particular scene which really whet my appetite, and I could, no kidding here… almost… almost smell curry (I did skip dinner for this movie though…).
A beautiful story about East meets West, foodie-style, a fusion of culinary ideas, cultures, and more importantly, it deceptively “mocks” the Michelin stars. Either that, or it’s the director’s way of saying that one can’t have the best of everything; To chase perfection, sacrifices have to be made. It depends on one's priorities, just like taste, subjective.
It may sound like a typical food film, but I don't think I've ever seen one about Michelin stars. The story was credible, easily digestible and is guaranteed to tickle your senses one way or another. While it’s not perfect,
with the rather hasty plot progression towards the end which did snap a few reeled-in
“fishing” lines (I was hooked alright), I find this movie to be a “journey” well
travelled. Definitely a sleeper hit (a low profile film which didn’t start out
well, but would eventually be a huge success) since it’s the first time in a
long while that the cinema I watched it at was only 25% filled despite opening
merely a week ago.
I’m hoping it won't take this Michelin-star movie the same
“Hundred-Foot Journey” the young man had to take before the masses uncovers the secret ingredients of a great movie – the evocation of the five senses served on a simple plate of ideas.
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