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Special

A man and a woman cooking
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screening

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The Taste of Things

“The Taste of Things” is a movie meant to make you fall in love — with the food, with the stars, with the French countryside — and it succeeds beautifully."

 THE TASTE OF THINGS (La passion de Dodin Bouffant) (FRANCE) 2023  Drama / History / Romance

Director : Anh Hung Tran

Starring :  Juliette Binoche   
Benoît Magimel    
Emmanuel Salinger
 
2 hr  15 min    

Loosely based on the novel by Marcel Rouff, The Taste of Things exquisitely sets the stage for an amorous escalation. Writer and director Trần Anh Hùng (The Scent of Green Papaya, Eternity), in perhaps one of the best opening scenes, spends nearly 20 minutes of his first act documenting Eugénie's meticulous preparation and cooking, and Juliette Binoche is mesmerizing to watch.

We learn that Dodin is widely regarded as the "Napoleon of gastronomy," a title he categorically rejects and his friends playfully mock. Dodin accepts nothing less than perfection. But he's not a strict or overbearing taskmaster. Eugénie has his complete confidence. They both instruct as attentive teachers, their goal being to pass on what they've learned to those worthy of instruction

Eugénie has long captured Dodin's heart, but she stalwartly refuses to change the nature of their relationship. He is the chef. She's his cook. Eugénie's shared feelings and attraction to him mustn't alter their undeniable chemistry in the kitchen. They're too good together to risk collective brilliance. But her refusal to make their couple status official doesn't offend Dodin. He becomes more determined to attain the greatest prize. Dodin cannot be complete without Eugenie at his side.

For This Night Only - the venue for this screening is the Astoria Cinema, Burns Statue Square, Ayr.  Tickets £5 online, or at the door. 

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