“The Pot Au Feu” – Tran Anh Hung’s latest film – tells the gentle, poetic story of a food lover.
* The article reveals a part of the movie's content
The Pot Au Feu (also named The Passion of Dodin Bouffant) premiered at the Cannes Film Festival (France) on May 24. The work that competed for the Palme d'Or received applause for almost seven minutes at Lumiere – the main screening room of the event. The Pot Au Feu It also marked Tran Anh Hung's return to Cannes, where he had won the Golden Camera Award in 1993 with his debut film The smell of green papaya.
Director Tran Anh Hung was applauded by the audience when The Pot Au Feu ended at the Lumière screening room, May 24, at Cannes 5. Video: FranceTV
The film features two actors Benoît Magimel and Juliette Binoche, adapted from the novel The Life and Passion of Dodin-Bouffant, Gourmet (1924) by Marcel Rouff. Protagonist Dodin (Benoît Magimel) is a foodie who spends all his time thinking about top-quality food. He is rich enough to follow his passion and gather a group of friends like him. Godin can recognize good and bad dishes in the blink of an eye, as well as a deep understanding of ingredients and cooking methods. Dodin's talent is famous near and far, to the point that he is considered "Napoleon in the culinary world".
Dodin has a chef Eugénie (Juliette Binoche) who has a great instinct for flavors and ingredients. She always fulfills the requirements set by Dodin. Eugénie was admired as much as her master, but did not want to receive the glory, but devoted herself to the kitchen. Huge dinners regularly took place at Dodin's house, while Eugénie worked and ate alone in the kitchen. She teaches only her maid's 13-year-old niece, also a young girl with extraordinary culinary potential.
Dodin considers food to be his biggest passion in life. Image: Cannes Film Festival
Dodin made no secret of his affection and admiration for Eugénie, who had been with him for so many years that they were inseparable. He boldly confessed and asked her permission to marry her as a legitimacy for their close relationship. But can this love affair end with complete happiness?
Movie's name Pot Au Feu Just a traditional French beef stew. The film has a story where a foreign nobleman invites Dodin and his friends to a lavish but unsophisticated party. In response, Dodin invited the man to his place, intending to serve only rustic pot au feu.
But it is the simplicity that hides the feat, like the statement: Culinary talent is cooking ordinary dishes that still exude something special. New work of Tran Anh Hung can also be seen as such: A simple story but the director's artistic style gives life to the film. Food is the central theme, with a series of excerpts depicting meal preparation. Close-ups of ingredients, as well as well-placed panning movements, set an elegant rhythm to the series of cooking scenes. At the banquet table, the chef's work is received by gourmets with knowledgeable commentary.
Food connects the characters in the movie. Image: Cannes Film Festival
In The Menu (2022), a famous work on food, cooking is transformed into an extreme and haunting experience. Still The Pot Au Feu approach this topic in a spiritual and poetic direction. Culinary is elevated to art, and Dodin's house was a French gourmet sanctuary in the late 19th century.
Besides culinary beauty, Tran Anh Hung builds two main characters who blend together, expressing love language through conversations about cooking. They are in harmony with instincts, intelligence and aspirations. Dodin repeatedly set difficult culinary requirements, sometimes vague and philosophical and sociological, but Eugénie was able to fulfill them.
They love each other based on equality, respect and respect for each other, Dodin is not arrogant, knowing that he is nothing without Eugénie in the kitchen. This close relationship is somewhat reminiscent of the love between Tran Anh Hung and his wife Tran Nu Yen Khe in real life. The director also gave his spouse a tribute when the film ended.
Actors Juliette Binoche and Benoit Magimel play the love couple in the film. Image: Cannes Film Festival
The Pot Au Feu there is very little conflict and drama. Still, as Dodin admits, he and Eugénie had entered the autumn of their youth. They are mostly fulfilled in life but face the uncertainty of how long that happiness can last. In most of the story, Tran Anh Hung uses warm colors, from sunlight and candlelight, to harmonize with the culinary story. But at the turning point of the film, cold colors prevail to depict the character's sadness.
Tran Anh Hung approaches the story in a calm and slow way, like the way the dish is cooked Pot Au Feu. During the first few minutes, he entertains viewers with a series of cooking scenes, before starting to introduce more deeply into the characters. The care of the two main characters for food is considered a profound symbol of art, where only dedication to the fullest can create real results. Eugénie does not eat directly with guests because she wants to communicate with them through the food she makes. This is similar to the concept of many artists that let the work speak for you.
Compared to Tran Anh Hung's latest film – Eternity (Eternal, 2016), The Pot Au Feu perhaps more accessible to a mass audience because of the lighter story. The film has warm moments, bringing laughter when the two characters meet. Some scenes are emotional about how to express silent love, like Dodin cooking for Eugénie when she is sick.
Contemplative audiences may think a little bit about the film's existentiality. A meal, however hearty and elaborate, is short-lived, just as human life and relationships cannot be eternal. What remains in the end are the memories of the moments we spent together.
The Passion of Dodin Bouffant received many positive responses from critics. Page Deadline commented that the work has a unique narrative style, successfully honoring the senses in the culinary experience. Sheet Guardian praised the film for having many beautiful scenes, exuding charm and sophistication. Hollywood Reporter Appreciate the acting of the lead couple.
