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CHICAGO – The late playwright August Wilson left a gift to the world in the form of his “American Century Cycle,” a series of plays each individually set in a decade of the 20th Century, focusing on the black experience. Chicago’s Goodman Theatre presents Wilson’s “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” now through May 19th, 2024 (click here).
Podtalk: Director Ahn Hung Tran for ‘The Taste of Things,’ Digital Release on March 28, 2024
Submitted by PatrickMcD on March 26, 2024 - 11:38am
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Ahn Hung Tran and Benoit Magimel on the set of ‘The Taste of Things’
Photo credit: Stephanie Branchu for IFC Films
”The Taste of Things” is available for digital download on March 28th thru various platforms. Featuring Juliette Binoche, Benoit Magimel, Emmanuel Salinger, Patrick d’Assumcao and Galatea Bellugi. Written (adapted) and directed by Ahn Hung Tran. Rated “PG-13”
© 2024 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com
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CHICAGO – The great food movies of cinema history … think “Babette’s Feast” or “Big Night” … use food prep cinematically as a palette for the senses. A French/Belgium film from last year continues that tradition. “The Taste of Things,” featuring Oscar winner Juliette Binoche and written/directed by Ahn Hung Tran, is set in late 19th Century France within a romance between a chef and his muse.
 Rating: 4.5/5.0 |
Adapted from a popular French novel featuring Chef Dodin Bouffant (Benoit Magimel), and set in 1889, the story involves the developing love affair between Bouffant and his vital taster and sous chef Eugenie (Juliette Binoche). As Bouffant’s reputation grows, to a point where ambassadors and kings desire his meals, Eugenie continues to be his muse. Right at the height of their love and food creative relationship, Eugenie’s health becomes an obstacle.
Ahn Hung Tran and Benoit Magimel on the set of ‘The Taste of Things’
Photo credit: Stephanie Branchu for IFC Films
The film explores the cooperation of creativity, especially in cooking, where each phase is lovingly explored through the vision of director Ahn Hung Tran. The created dishes are shown as flavor breakthroughs, and Eugenie’s contributions are essential for Bouffant’s success. To experience both sides of the relationship is the key to both the beauty of the film and its romance, which allows for the food to burst outward from the screen and become a necessary symbol for true love and inspiration.
Ahn Hung Tran, the writer/director of the film, made a splash early in this career with a trilogy of films set in his native Vietnam (Tran’s family left there when he was 12 years old). “The Scent of Green Papaya” (1993) was Oscar nominated for Best International Film, “Cyclo” (1995) won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and the trilogy finale was “The Vertical Ray of the Sun” (2000). “The Taste of Things” is his seventh feature film.
In Podtalk interview by Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com, Ahn Hung Tran relates the depth of “The Taste of Things” …
Trailer, “The Taste of Things”…
 | By PATRICK McDONALD |
