Relatively uplifting films reviewed this week. Foodie fanaticism and fun as a Japanese chef aim for a Michelin star in Paris. Plus a historical story of a bus driver who helped stand up for the poor people and change the face of Barcelona in the 70s.
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© Sony - temperatures rise in trhe
kitchen of Chef Obana, trying to make it big
in the Paris culinary scene. |
Chef Obana (Takuya Kimura) runs an upmarket restaurant in Paris, and is striving to get a coveted three-Michelin star ranking. Pitting oneself against the French gastronomic institution is a mighty tall order, and Obana struggles to figure out where his cuisine fits in: should it be all French or allow itself to be inspired by his Japanese roots, along with influences from his multi-cultural staff? After preparing a not-so-successful banquet for a bunch of wanky Michelin critics, he has a major falling-out with his sous-chef Rinko (Kyoka Suzuki) who leaves. We then follow Obana's painful journey of self-examination as he struggles with his perfectionist nature and his confrontational relationships with those around him. Additional sub-plots involving the pastry chef being hounded by loan sharks and the restaurant's owner angling to evict Obana so he can install his son, add an extra layer of intrigue. The plot overall is fairly predictable, but is never less than highly entertaining, with its mouth-watering scenes of meticulous slicing, dicing, tweezering and all that goes into preparing fine-dining dishes. It's what I term "food porn" which, for lovers of foodie films, is a great reason not to go hungry to the cinema!3.5 - well recommended
El 47
Dir: Marcel Barena
Length: 110 mins
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© Palace - true story of a modest bus driver
who changed the face of Barcelona |
Hot from the recent Spanish Film Festival, this inspiring true story is set in Barcelona in the late 1970s. Poor folks who have ventured north from southern Spain are living in shanty huts, in Torre Baro, a neighborhood they have built themselves, on the outskirts of Barcelona. They are disliked by the locals and municipal officials refuse to improve their suburb with basic amenities like electricity, and a bus service. Local bus driver Manolo Vital (Eduard Fernandez) decides to take matters into his own hands, and in the form of peaceful dissent hijacks his own vehicle to prove that a bus can go up the narrow streets of Torre Baro. He is credited with having helped form what is now modern Barcelona. This is a realistic slice-of-life drama, grounded in history, and the winner of 25 prestigious awards and a host of nominations, including a Best Film at the 2025 Goyas. Fernandez gives a powerful performance, as does Clara Segura as Carmen, his devoted wife.
3.5 - well recommended
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