The Hundred-Foot Journey

The Hundred- Foot Journey is a feast for the eyes and heart. Film making has so much in common with great cooking and Swedish director Lasse Hallström is a master chef among film makers, choosing all the perfect ingredients to make this film the most palatable it can be for its audience.

After tragedy strikes a family from Mumbai India with a long illustrious reputation of cooking traditional Indian dishes, they are forced to move to Europe seeking a new home where they will re-establish their trade mark culinary excellence. 

Hallström is no stranger to satisfying comfort films having directed such appetizing feel good films as Chocolat (2000), Cider House Rules (1999) and Salmon Fishing in the Yemen (2011). 

After a long arduous trek through several countries looking for a place with just the right culinary vibe, they eventually stumble across a quaint rural French village where the local market bursts with exceptionally fresh locally grown produce. 

Based on the best-selling debut novel by Richard C. Morais, the story is a sumptuous banquet blend of Ratatouille (2007), Chocolat (2000) and Under the Tuscan Sun (2003), stunningly filmed in the picturesque medieval country villa of St.-Antonin-Noble-Var in southern France.

Papa (Om Puri), the family patriarch immediately decides that this is the place to set up their new Indian curry house and sets to work creating a magical Indian palace that exudes spicy aromas wafting on the evening breeze right across the street into a long standing posh French fine dining restaurant. They quickly find themselves at war with the owner Madam Mallory (Helen Mirren), over cultural differences and the battle of tastes begins.

This is definitely a foodie film and a very good one too, with culinary clashes fusing traditional French cuisine spiced up with exotic Indian fare. So if you go in before having lunch or dinner you may find yourself coming out with a mouthwatering craving for Indian and French cuisine.

The garish bright and loud new Indian eatery does not sit well with the reserved local residents whose tastes are not used to the heavily spiced Indian dishes and the new restaurant suffers from lack of interest, but Papa has a few secret ingredients up his sleeve that will give his French rivals some real competition. 

An enchanting romantic fairy tale, this flavorful experience will leave you satisfied that you’ve cultivated your senses. Much effort was made to make the food, kitchens and cooking techniques look absolutely authentic and the scenic photography of charming old world villages will make you salivate as much as the orgasmic gastronomy on display. 

The film touches on many contrasting philosophical views of life; rural village vs. big city, traditional vs. innovation, sophistication vs. fun loving, modern vs. vintage, and money vs. passion, it all gives the film a visual dichotomy and food for thought.

Whatever your tastes, you will enjoy the rich, luscious emotional smorgasbord on offer and leave with fond visions of a unique toothsome film experience. 

JP