Marcel Proust can have his madeleines, I have food on film. I found myself thinking the other day about films where food is integral to the story and it made me hungry. So I have come up with a list of films where food and eating is a key part of the film. This is a work in progress so feel free to add your own suggestions. I have confined my list to narrative films. This of course eliminates the best food film- Baking Bread a documentary by my favorite Sicilian, Rose Spinelli. Please check it out. http://www.mediarights.org/film/baking_bread
Here is my list by cuisine. The films, as well as the food, should be good.
American
Soul Food– The title says it all.
Diner– It’s ABOUT the roast beef sandwich.
Dinner Rush– Just like working in a popular restaurant. Directed by a man who owns a restaurant.
Chinese
Eat Drink Man Woman-Directed by Ang Lee. Tortilla Soup is the much inferior re-make.
German
Mostly Martha- Another film set in a working kitchen.
Greek
My Big Fat Greek Wedding-This film only made my list because of the food, Somehow Zorba the Greek didn’t seem to fit.
French
Babette’s Feast –French food, Danish film.
Chocolat- We can’t forget dessert.
Italian
Big Night – The sine qua non of food films. Everyone involved with the film must have been a foodie. This is a great film for lots of reasons, but none better than the line, “The pasta- sometimes she wants to be alone.” (Say it aloud with an Italian accent.)
The Godfather – One could argue the film is about food. Count how many references to food there are vs. how many mentions of the “mafia?” Also, anytime someone is killed and the next line is “Leave the gun, take the cannoli,” you know the film is about food.
Japanese
Lost in Translation – Perhaps a stretch, but the film so immerses us into Japan, that you have to include it. Also, the scenes where Bill Murray shoots the commercial for whiskey are priceless. I hope my directorial manner is better than that commercial director. Also, how different would U.S. culture be if we could advertise for hard liquor on TV? Dale Earnhardt Jr. for Jack Daniels anyone?
Mexican
Like Water for Chocolate– You will be hungry and amorous after seeing the film.
Scottish.
Local Hero– A wonderful film. You really get a sense of how other cultures look at the land and animals. Peter Riegert brings an injured rabbit to his inn. The next time he sees it it’s on his plate as Lapin a La Cocotte.
I want to add my own madeleine to this list. The In-Laws with Peter Falk and Alan Arkin.
There are a lot of food scenes and references- the dinner when the two families meet, (tse tse flies with beaks), Vince and Shelley driving backwards down the road as Vince reminisces about a chicken salad sandwich on a hard roll with a large orange juice ‘You know the grande?’ The Guacamole Act of 1917. But the food scene, to me, is the Pea Soup scene.
After Arkin (Shelley) has been chased down the street (but before he learns how to serpentine) and Falk (Vince) are eating in a diner. Shelley has ordered split pea soup but isn’t eating it. Vince takes some and says, “A little greasy but very good. Crumble up some crackers to absorb the grease,” You need to see it.
I cannot eat pea soup without thinking of Vince and Shelley and my dad.
PeterH
