Critics on the new film Kings of Pastry:
'Forget Master Chef. This is the culinary Hurt Locker.' - Herald Scotland
'Thrilling, heart-stopping, exquisite.' - The Independent
'I never saw so many strong men sobbing at once.' -The Guardian (U.K.)
'Leaves viewers on the edge of their seats.' -LA Times
'Gripping, even for non-foodies' -Variety
'French accents galore! Pretty pastries abound! Exciting! Touching! Me likey.' -Me
Every four years, the best of the best pastry chefs participate in the Meilleurs Ouvriers de France (Best Craftsmen of France). Pushed to mental and physical extremes, these men (no, I didn't see any women competitors in the movie) compete for the title of MOF. It's hard to believe, but some of these individuals are returning for their second or third attempt. That means they've been working towards this title for 8 or 12 years!
Filmmakers and married couple Chris Hegedus and D A Pennebaker have created a documentary covering featured participants and the competition as a whole. This movie is a pleasure to watch on multiple levels--the craft of these kitchen masters, the simultaneous intensity and humor that exists behind the scenes, and the clearly evidenced passion these chefs have for their art.
My favorite moments are many. Here are a few:
[1] At one point in the film, one of the competitors drops his sugar sculpture--an occurrence that many consider damning. We, along with the chef, feel the shock and horror after the event, but we also are lucky to feel the real support and love displayed by the MOF judges. They come to his side, whisper words of encouragement, and some even put their own previously won medals on his counter top in silent support. It's really a touching moment in the film.
[2] Watching Chef Sebastienne Canonne really prove that he is a neat freak. At around 6:00, he scolds a chef pastry student for having a messy counter top (It's true--a messy room means a messy mind.). And at around 37:00, after cutting a pastry for a taste-test, Cannone picks up the crumbs with his fingers and deposits them onto the plate. It's not really emphasized in the film, but I found it to be pretty adorable/amusing.
[3] Chef Jacquy Pfeiffer giving us a step-by-step tutorial for a wedding cake. He has it all--a whiteboard, EXPO markers, and assigning different drawn textures to different cake components. It's the best.
[4] The impassioned speeches of French president Nicolas Sarkozy and MOF jury president Philippe Urraca. I'm sure this is a sweeping generalization, but it seems that the French make speeches that are much more intellectualized than American ones. Sarkozy talks about whether manual and intellectual art differ in value, and Urraca compares each individual test-taste to a 'moral dilemma.' I love it.
This is the film's trailer:
If this seems like something you like, this video will be available until September 20, 2011. I have embedded it below for those interested.
To learn more about the film, visit the Kings of Pastry site here.
Note: A big thanks to the Baker for directing me toward this film!
