January 2015 | Issue 3.2 | OutBoise.com
NEWS | OutBoise Magazine | 27
Seeing is Smelling
one day. I had a moment of actually being aware
how well the steam was being represented on
screen. I know it totally sounds random and odd.
By Kristopher Munoz
If you look at movies from 15 years ago. Steam in
kitchen scenes come off as too much bathroom
I hope that now that the holiday madness is all
condensation after a wonderful hot shower. It’s
over, we can all now sit and relax for just a mooften thick and too mechanical because you
ment. Take a breath and know that you have
know some poor tech hand is somewhere pumping
survived another Black Friday rush, seasonal prep
water or melting ice into some kind of jimmy-rigged
cooking and have finally found and vacuumed all
hose-system to make the steam come out at the
of those damn pine needles for that Christmas tree.
right angle with the camera and lighting. However
You know, the one that you wanted to decorate
not in this movie.
as a family, then when no one was looking moved
the ornament placement to your liking. Well before
Set design and details of the kitchens are acthe rush of the seasonal bills come in, allow me to
curate to location. The complete commitment to
recommend a perfect relaxing evening movie.
detail gives and creates that extra captivating pull
that makes you get lost in this film, even down to
I was about to head out to see a movie at the
Mirren’s impeccable French and accent. Om Puri
downtown location when I was called and invited
plays the Kadam’s patriarch, Papa, whose passion
by my amazing roomies to enjoy a rental movie
for cooking traditional Indian cuisine was shared
with them. Talk about perfect timing, right! I was
by his wife, who passed this passion onto her son,
about to get to spend time with those I care about
Hassan, who is played by Dayal. After getting some
and watch a new movie I haven’t seen before
back history of the Kadam’s, we come to find out
all while saving a few bucks. As it turned out, they
what lead them in France.
invited me because they thought I would love
the movie , and they were right. I love when you
Hassan finds himself cooking to remember the
find those special friends in this world, and current
wisdom passed on by his mentor and mother, also
lifetime, that just get you. As it turned out, we were
how to adapt and move forward in life. He must
going to watch the film “The Hundred-Foot Jouralso contend with the wisdom, pride and egos
ney.”
between his father and Madame Mallory. He see’s
the antics between both of these headstrong charIt features the amazingly talents of Helen Mirren,
acters. When he witnesses a particular event, these
Om Puri, and Manish Dayal. The story follows the
Kadam family as they’re on their way to find a new two competitors find a common ground based on
respect. But it’s not over yet for Hassan, or for the
home, which as fate would have it, lands them in
France and settles them right across from Madame two business owners.
Mallory’s Michelin-Starred eatery. Prepare yourself
for some great laughs, interesting self-reflection,
tons of salivating due to giving your eyes & taste
buds full control.
Thanks to the advances of High Definition Television now, you can almost actually smell the
many spices and seasonings used in the featured
French, European and Indian cuisines. The food, in
my humble opinion, is also a star of this film. Being
something of a foodie, I knew what some of the
ingredients smelled liked. I knew how mentioned
dishes were going to taste like, and I could only
dream of cooking these wonderful dishes myself,
I hope you enjoy this wonderful film as much as
I did. Since seeing this film, it had inspired me to
cook a little more. Speaking for myself, one of the
best feelings in this world is cooking for the ones
you love. That’s how you can always tell when
someone or say a Chef loves what they do, you
can literally taste it in the food. When I eat out, I
can always tell when the cook simply did their job,
and when someone loves their job. Anyone else
experience this as well? If so, let me know.
The Hundred-Foot Journey:
www.imdb.com/title/tt2980648/?ref_=fn_al_tt_2