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Berlin International Film Festival · 2012

Berlin International Film Festival 2012

Culinary Cinema

Programme

15 films · 1 review

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Asparragos

Documentary which follows the unusual practice of Asparagus farming in Peru.

(Country: Belgium / Peru; Year: 2011; Director: Laura Zuallaert; Stars: Thomas Vertongen)

Canned Dreams

Documentary which highlights the bizarre and complex journey of canned food production throughout Europe; from field to supermarket shelves.

(Country: Finland; Year: 2011; Director: Katja Gauriloff)

The Chef (Comme un chef)

Star chef Alexandre is desperately trying to come up with fresh innovations in his restaurant to please his new CEO, but is running short of ideas.Then one day, as luck would have it, he meets Jacky - a talented but stubborn aficionado of haute cuisine.

(Country: France; Year: 2011; Director: Daniel Cohen; Writer: Daniel Cohen; Stars: Jean Reno, Michaël Youn, Raphaëlle Agogué, Julien Boisselier, Salomé Stevenin, Serge Larivière, Issa Doumbia, Bun Hay Hean)

Cinnamon (Canela)

Tere has lost her passion for food and stopped working at her traditional Mexican restaurant. However, when she is replaces by Rosi - a Cordon Bleu chef educated in France - Tere returns to the restaurant to battle for its return to traditional Mexican cuisine, and finds a new friend and her passion for food rekindled.

(Country: Mexico; Year: 2011; Director: Jordi Mariscal; Writer: Marilú Acosta, Jordi Mariscal; Stars: Ana Martín, Isabel Yudice, Norma Angélica, Mónica Dionne, Carlos Cobos)

Hindsight

Doo-heon, once a legendary gangster, wants to live a quiet and normal life running his own restaurant. But can he ever escape the violent nature of his past?

(Country: Republic of Korea (South Korea); Year: 2011; Director: Lee Hyeon-seung; Stars: Song Gang-ho, Shin Se-kyung, Chun Jeong-myung)

Joyful Reunion

The threat of closure hanging over a long-standing restaurant brings together two generations of friends, family and lovers who must fight to keep it open despite their differences.

(Country: Taiwan / People's Republic of China; Year: 2011; Director: Tsao Jui-Yuan; Stars: Gua Aleh, Huo Siyan, Lan Zheng-Long (Blue), Kenneth Tsang)

Last Call At The Oasis

Documentary which film sheds light on the vital role water plays in our lives and presents a convincing argument for why the global water crisis will be the central issue facing our world this century.

(Country: USA; Year: 2011; Director: Jessica Yu; Writer: Jessica Yu)

Living Food Communities (Pokot Ash Yoghurt)

Living Food Communities follows Peter and John, who currently coordinate the Slow Food network in Kenya. Their work consists of helping the community to improve animal health, local pastures and food practices.

(Country: Italy; Year: 2011; Director: Francesco Amato, Stefano Scarafia)

Lupe Of The Cow (Lupe el de la vaca)

Documentary focused on the inhabitants of El Corralito, Mexico, who are forced to seek employment as seasonal labourers. However, the current unprofitability of farming activities results in most having to resort to migration to the U.S.

(Country: Mexico; Year: 2011; Director: Blanca X. Aguerre)

Mugaritz B.S.O.

MUGARITZ B.S.O. is a project by the chef Andoni Luis Aduriz and the musician Felipe Ugarte, which combines gastronomy with music.

(Country: Spain; Year: 2011; Director: Felipe Ugarte, Juantxo Sardon; Stars: Andoni Luis Aduriz, Felipe Ugarte)

Oma & Bella

Oma & Bella is a documentary portrait of two elderly Jewish Holocaust survivors in Berlin whose connection to the past, engagement with the present, and hopes for the future are intricately entwined with the food they make.

(Country: Germany / USA; Year: 2011; Director: Alexa Karolinski)

The Raw And The Cooked (Das Rohe und das Gekochte)

The Raw And The Cooked is a documentary expedition through the culinary traditions of Taiwan, showing how closely food is connected to the various cultures of this multi-ethnic state

(Country: Germany / Taiwan; Year: 2012; Director: Monika Treut; Writer: Monika Treut)

The Scarf (Lepokoa)

Teresa is hoping her son will come home for Christmas, but the locals don't believe he will turn up. However, the old woman has prepared a feast and she even bought her son a present.

(Country: Spain / France; Year: 2003; Director: Safy Nebbou; Writer: Andrée Chedid, Safy Nebbou; Stars: Pilar Rodríguez, Joseba Apaolaza, Olatz Beobide, Manu Gaigne)

Should The Wife Confess?

The story of a husband and wife who have found traditional methods of communication to be troublesome, and hope that their shared love of food can help them bond.

(Country: Belgium / Portugal; Year: 2011; Director: Bernardo Camisão; Writer: Sofia Caessa; Stars: Sofia Caessa, Hilbren Buys)

Step Up To The Plate (Entre les Bras)

Review preview for Step Up To The Plate

The pace of the film, like the turning of the seasons, country life and the shift in control of the Bras empire, is slow, but no less enthralling for that.

Amber Wilkinson · 4 out of 5
The story of Michelin starred chef Michel and his son Sébastien, as father prepares to hand over the running of the restaurant to his son after a 15-year apprenticeship.

(Country: France; Year: 2011; Director: Paul Lacoste; Stars: Michel Bras, Sébastien Bras)

Full review