What it’s about
In bucolic rural France in the late twentieth century, the aging, preeminent gourmand Dodin Bouffant (Magimel) lives on his bounteous farm consuming the most exquisite French cuisine with friends, mostly prepared by longtime companion Eugenie (Binoche), a gifted chef. Dodin proposes marriage to her, clearly not for the first time. Once again, the luminous, enigmatic Eugenie gently declines. Meanwhile, she’s facing health issues, which she’s minimizing. What does the future hold for this devoted couple, beyond the next incredible meal?
Why we love it
Viewers will salivate at the plentiful scenes of food preparation, but there’s a lot more on the table here than food. “Taste” is both a subtle, tender romance between two people settling into the last chapter of their lives and an evocative meditation on the impermanence of life, however sweet. Binoche and Magimel (once married in real life) generate delicious chemistry, and Chagneau-Ravoire also charms as their young apprentice Pauline. The heavenly French countryside is yet another plus in this gorgeous, bittersweet film that leaves you hungry for more.