This is a really wonderful film based on Isak Denisen’s short story. If you love fine dining, or have questions on how faith can be expressed in ordinary life (but you don’t want to read the writings of Saint Augustine), then watch this film ALL THE WAY TO THE END.  There is truly no part that should be skipped.

I got inspired to write about it because the New York Times Critics’ Pick just featured it.

The review is on video, and can be accessed here.  Small warning: the critic gives the plot, and that is rather unfortunate.

The charm of the movie is the plot itself, and the film’s development of the plot is loooooooooooong.  This is not for the impatient, MTV crowd.  The first 1.5 hours or so are devoted to just laying the foundation, and this foundation happens to be the lifetime of two graying spinster sisters.  The story’s point is made in the final fifteen minutes.

I promise that if have patience, you will feel replete at the end.

Other great movies involving food where the food itself is important and you will feel some hunger while watching:

• Eat, Drink, Man, Woman (Yin shi nan nu) by Ang Lee (1994)
• The Age of Innocence by Martin Scorcese (1993)
• Like Water for Chocolate (Como Agua Para Chocolate) by Alfonso Arau (1992) BUT ESQUIVEL’S BOOK IS BETTER
• Chocolat by Lasse Hallström (2000)
• Fried Green Tomatoes by Jon Avnet (1991) — ok one won’t feel hunger, but something else with this one!