The Taste of Things

The Taste of Things (2023), a French historical romantic drama, set on a country estate in 1889. The plot follows Eugenie, a middle-aged cook, played by acting royalty Juliet Binoche, and Dodin (Benoit Magimel) the famous gourmet she works for. They are in a long term relationship but don’t live together. Their joy is preparing food with one another which we get to savour in mouth-watering detail throughout the film. These delicious dishes are a feast for the senses, as is the beautifully played romance between the couple, filmed by South Vietnamese director Tran Anh Hung.

This ravishing film is a delight from start to finish. ‘So rich and romantic it will leave you woozy’,  Time Out.

A:   Food poetry +amazing chemistry. Stunning cinematography, beautiful. (A)    Delicious in every way! (A)  
Parfait! (A) Exquisite. Food is art; life goes on – (A)    Quite beautiful. (A)    Fabulous. One can taste the food made. Excellent (A) Beautiful, gently poignant love story in which the profound was contained within the mundane (A)   Amazing. (A)   Such a delightful film, beautifully acted and a sad but lovely ending. (A)     Brilliant because I’m a cook (A)
A+++ Benoit Magimel an outstanding screen presence, a film that satisfies all 5 senses. Perfection!! (A)
A moving, very French, delicious, sad treat (A)    Beautifully photographed film  (A)    A delight for the senses. (A)
A great film (A)   Tres gentil! . (A)  Wonderful photography/Filming, beautiful sets, delightful.(A) 
Brilliant, amusing, informative. (A) A lovely film! An evocation of the sensory power of food! (A)  
Gorgeous. Interesting! (A)

Beautiful in every way. A film to treasure. (A)    Delightful. I want to have that kitchen and I could smell the taste! (A) Beautiful photography, seeing it a 2^nd time increases the enjoyment. Not to be watched on an empty stomach!! (A) Truly delightful. (A) Another great film! Food as high art – or pretentious posturing! I loved it! (A)
So delightful! The French do it so well! Pure joy love and beauty.  (A)  Perfect in every way from start to finish. (A)
Exquisite, overwhelmingly beautiful. (A)

B:   Delicieux from the hors d’oeuvre to the very languid dessert! (B)
Simple story, but absorbing and beautifully acted. (B)
Juliette Binoche lights up the screen. Very sensual film with superb acting. It lost something when Eugenie died, otherwise an A. (B)  Beautifully filmed – wonderfully French. (B)  
Great film and natural acting but her predicament was extremely frustrating! (B) Pomiane on film; exquisite. (B)   Beautiful, a little predictable in places. Juileitte Binoche lights up the screen. Enjoyed it. (B)   Exquisite + sensual (B)

C:  A cross between Babettes’s Feast and Rabelais.  (C)    Delightful (C)

IMDB details