Over a century ago, when the Lumière Brothers first screened films for the public, alongside the renowned The Arrival of a Train at La Ciotat, there was also Le Repas de bébé, capturing footage of Auguste Lumière feeding his daughter. In that forty seconds, it recorded not only food consumption, but also a precious moment of parent-child bonding. From this short film onwards, countless films centred on food have been produced, with various suggestions readily available online. The finest among them explore more than mere chewing and digestion. Food transcends from being a source of nutrition; it connects to emotions, culture, history, identity, and belonging. It has the power to bring people together and evoke our feelings and memories.
If one were to transform a food movie playlist into a cuisine menu, the light-hearted Kamome Diner would make an ideal starter. Serving up delectable bites, it draws strangers closer, fostering unexpected friendships in the homeland of the Moomins. The Lunchbox is another touching tale, where a misdelivered lunchbox sparks heartful exchange between two strangers. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner tells a pre-meal story itself, tackling serious themes with light-hearted humour. Toast also serves as an appetiser, as the son traces the origins of his culinary passion through his childhood recollections.
As for main course, Babette’s Feast and Big Night could hardly be more fitting. Both depict individuals in foreign lands preparing lavish feasts originating from their homeland, treating culinary delights as divine blessings. Julie & Julia and Cooking History both use cookbooks as conduits to explore deeper themes. The former uses a cookbook to bridge two eras, invoking a dialogue between women across generation and time; the latter employs recipes to weave together six historical segments, tracing the stories of military cooks and soldiers to observe shifting tides through kitchen windows. First Cow also delves into history, tracing back to the American frontier era to depict two men’s culinary entrepreneurial dreams.
For dessert, comedies may offer some light-hearted delights. Tampopo indulges in dark humour, brimming with exaggerated satire that remains rich without being overpowering, sweet at an amount that is just right. The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover could also be viewed as a black comedy on the absurd side while masterfully blending cuisine with love and hatred. The Chinese Feast not only fulfils the requirements of a festive comedy but also combines culinary themes with kung fu and wuxia elements. Though not a comedy, Boiling Point features a seamless single-take rhythm, making it a delightful after-dinner treat that lingers in the memory.
Today’s special selection features Master Cheng, starring Chu Pak-hong. Like Kamome Diner, it was also filmed in Finland, setting against the soothing landscapes of Scandinavia. It will be screened at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre (EKCC). Concurrently, the enrichment programme “Bon Cinéppétit!” invites audiences to share memorable flavours remind them of these fourteen films, which will be compiled into a display at the EKCC and online. Participating viewers could earn free tickets to a delectable “Grand Finale”, a multi-sensory screening of Ratatouille and An. The former, a family-friendly animation, conveys the universal aspiration that anyone can cook; the latter, through the story of a dorayaki shop, captures insights into life, mutual understanding, and care between people.
Special thanks to the four art directors for taking time to attend the seminars, and heartfelt gratitude to all guest speakers for agreeing to participate in the post-screening talks. We hope this diverse menu of film genres and styles invites audiences to join us for a feast for the eyes, ears and taste buds. Let’s embark on a soul-stirring journey of flavours.
Curator｜Ernest Chan
If one were to transform a food movie playlist into a cuisine menu, the light-hearted Kamome Diner would make an ideal starter. Serving up delectable bites, it draws strangers closer, fostering unexpected friendships in the homeland of the Moomins. The Lunchbox is another touching tale, where a misdelivered lunchbox sparks heartful exchange between two strangers. Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner tells a pre-meal story itself, tackling serious themes with light-hearted humour. Toast also serves as an appetiser, as the son traces the origins of his culinary passion through his childhood recollections.
As for main course, Babette’s Feast and Big Night could hardly be more fitting. Both depict individuals in foreign lands preparing lavish feasts originating from their homeland, treating culinary delights as divine blessings. Julie & Julia and Cooking History both use cookbooks as conduits to explore deeper themes. The former uses a cookbook to bridge two eras, invoking a dialogue between women across generation and time; the latter employs recipes to weave together six historical segments, tracing the stories of military cooks and soldiers to observe shifting tides through kitchen windows. First Cow also delves into history, tracing back to the American frontier era to depict two men’s culinary entrepreneurial dreams.
For dessert, comedies may offer some light-hearted delights. Tampopo indulges in dark humour, brimming with exaggerated satire that remains rich without being overpowering, sweet at an amount that is just right. The Cook, The Thief, His Wife & Her Lover could also be viewed as a black comedy on the absurd side while masterfully blending cuisine with love and hatred. The Chinese Feast not only fulfils the requirements of a festive comedy but also combines culinary themes with kung fu and wuxia elements. Though not a comedy, Boiling Point features a seamless single-take rhythm, making it a delightful after-dinner treat that lingers in the memory.
Today’s special selection features Master Cheng, starring Chu Pak-hong. Like Kamome Diner, it was also filmed in Finland, setting against the soothing landscapes of Scandinavia. It will be screened at the East Kowloon Cultural Centre (EKCC). Concurrently, the enrichment programme “Bon Cinéppétit!” invites audiences to share memorable flavours remind them of these fourteen films, which will be compiled into a display at the EKCC and online. Participating viewers could earn free tickets to a delectable “Grand Finale”, a multi-sensory screening of Ratatouille and An. The former, a family-friendly animation, conveys the universal aspiration that anyone can cook; the latter, through the story of a dorayaki shop, captures insights into life, mutual understanding, and care between people.
Special thanks to the four art directors for taking time to attend the seminars, and heartfelt gratitude to all guest speakers for agreeing to participate in the post-screening talks. We hope this diverse menu of film genres and styles invites audiences to join us for a feast for the eyes, ears and taste buds. Let’s embark on a soul-stirring journey of flavours.
Curator｜Ernest Chan