Monday, November 10, 2014

Yong Chen's Top Ten Food Films

Yong Chen’s Top Ten Food Films (in chronological order)

Tampopo (1987; a clip) –focused on noodles in a country that has attached much symbolic meaning to rice, it reveals Japan’s cosmopolitanism combined with visual and sensual effects of food intertwined with sex and other important aspects of life.

Babette's Feast (1989) – a pure food film, accentuating the aesthetics of food.

Like Water for Chocolate (1992) – a beautifully made film about love and the Mexican nation told through the preparation and eating of food of a family.

Eat Drink Man Woman (1995) – with a title that is reminiscent of the Confucian wisdom about the fundamental importance of food and sex in life, it is a must see for foodies, especially those who love Chinese food.

Soul Food (1997) – another vivid reminder the importance of food in the family.

Woman on Top (1999) – a yummy drama, putting food, love, sex, and globalization all on one plate.

Super Size Me (2003) – a pungent critique of the Big Mac, a quintessentially American food, which America has grown to love to hate.

Ratatouille (2007) – a good-for-all-ages cartoon, one of the most original and entertaining food films.

Food Inc. (2008) – an engaging documentary good for teaching about America’s industrialized food systems, it has turned numerous people that recommended the film into vegetarians.

Julie & Julia (2009) – another true film and a must see for foodies, especially for those, who have read Julia Child’s monumental cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, or who are into food blogging.