We all develop our own set of prejudices about what we like in a movie, writes Christine Powley.
Director: Lasse Hallstrom
Cast: Helen Mirren, Om Puri, Manish Dayal, Charlotte Le Bon, Amit Shah, Farzana Dua, Clement Sibony
Rating: (PG)
Five stars (out of five)
I am partial to films set around food but the longer I review movies, the more I appreciate one that comes in at a neat hour and a-half.
The Hundred Foot Journey (Rialto, Metro and Reading) was primed to be a battle over which prejudice won out but I quickly realised this story of classical French versus high Indian cuisine could take its time and I would not quibble.
Some of the charm is the travelogue aspect, as a displaced Indian family, the Kadams, attempt to re-create the restaurant they lost in India in a French country village.
But the major element of the film's appeal is the people.
The Kadams are helmed by their indefatigable Papa (Om Puri), who meets his almost-match in Mme Mallory (Helen Mirren), who lives and breathes the one-star Michelin restaurant across the road from the Kadams' venture.
She wants the Kadams gone but finds Papa more than willing to fight fire with fire.
Meanwhile, Hassan Kadam (Manish Dayal), a natural-born cook, finds himself fascinated by the new (for him) tastes of French cuisine.
Influenced in part by pretty sous chef Marguerite (Charlotte Le Bon), he gives French cooking a go.
Once Mme Mallory learns of his talent, he becomes something else for her to battle his father over, but what does Hassan want?
Best thing: Just how much Helen Mirren is prepared to let you hate her.
Worst thing: Minor characters, which probably are spot-on for the novel by Richard C. Morais, seem out of place in the film.
See it with: A full stomach.
- Christine Powley
