Délicieux

Cinematography is the strongest aspect of this film. Some scenes look like paintings by Dutch Golden Age or Flemish Baroque artists. I had to pause several times to admire the tables tastefully laid with food. However, the main focus of the plot is not on food, like most of the reviewers seem to think. It shows the viewer why revolutions happen. Up until the rather stupid, highly unrealistic Hollywood-style happy ending. I guess the ending is the reason the film is listed as a comedy? Which it is not.

After chef Manceron is sacked by his fussy aristocratic boss, a woman appears out of nowhere and asks him to let her be an apprentice chef. He is unwilling as he thinks that chefs should all be males. She hands him some money for her tuition fees and finally pursuades him to teach her. He teaches her how to identify plants suitable for eating, and how to cook animals. She becomes an excellent cook, and we see some of the delicious looking food that she produces. We learn about the poverty of the local peasants and how many are starving. The arrogance and condescending attitude of the Duc de Chamfort and his fellow aristocrats give us a taste of the unfair treatment given to the poorer people which eventually led to the French Revolution.

My Rating 9/10

I'm no expert on Foreign cinema but I know what I like and I liked Delicious very much .

I just judge any film in any language on my own test.

Just 3 criteria. : Was it well produced and enjoyable to watch ?

Was I interested in the characters and story.?

And were the performances convincing?

And this French film DÉLICIEUX (Delicious) gets a high score in each category from me.

Writer/director Éric Besnard's mouth-watering new historical comedy indelibly pairs Grégory Gadebois and Isabelle Carré as a gifted chef and his unlikely protégé, who must find the resolve to free themselves from servitude.

In 1789 France, just prior to the Revolution.

Very loosely based on true events because as my research informs me in reality, the first restaurant is generally considered to be Le Grande Taverne des Londres in Paris, which opened a handful years before Delicious is set. However it's refreshing to see a delightful film that imaginatively does a flavourful job of marrying an origin story of sorts with its French Revolution-adjacent historical context.

Delicious joins other films that feature gastronomical delights like Chocolat. Babette's Feast , Julie and Julia , Eat Drink Man Woman and No Reservations but it's more than just a foodie movie it's intelligent heart warming and very entertaining.

From the first scene I was delighted by the food and characters. While the movie moves forward you get more and more attached. It's a great, creative story. Contains love, passion and a great narrative.

Delightful, pure, with great emotional payoff. I thoroughly enjoyed it. A take on aristocracy with French characteristics. Plus points for helping me improve my French listening.