Classic Food Films: Eat Drink Man Woman, Sweet Bean and Lunchbox

-
Sweet Bean (2015) is a Japanese film that is a joy to watch as it slowly unfolds before us. I miss this kind of pacing and I thank Director Naomi Kawase for directing it so well that I found one Japanese film that is so filling, not only visually but also story-wise. Of course, it is an intended pun because An is the soul, the sweet bean filling, of the dorayaki, a spongy pancake. This movie invites us to see possibilties beyond our limitations and do our best in our life through the friendship of a teenager with inconsiderate mother, a middle age man who hates Dorayaki and an old woman who makes the perfect An. Almost every scene is a poetry in motion for me.

***

Eat Drink Man Woman is a 1994 Ang Lee film that gave us a visual treat of some chinese cooking as backdrop to a story that delights us with all the twist. But as much as I loved the long exposure of kitchen techniques at the start, I doubly loved the scene where the father and daughter had finally connected. I snapped the scene and posted here as this reminded me of my own father. Well, what do we do in order to live? Eat and Drink, of course. 


Lunchbox (2013) is an Indian film that invites us to let our senses and dreams open up through good food. Though I really really wished there are more visuals on food preparation here and more allusions to food and life in this film, it surely brought home the point that good food evokes our creativity, childhood memories, zest for life, possibilities for love, new dreams. 

At any rate, while watching this film, I craved for Milk Tea that I scooped out my second from the last helping of cardamoms (shoutout to my benefactor in Malaysia)  and my loose black tea after watching it. I also churned out my chicken gizzard and liver into a very very lazy curry with potatoes, bayleaf, curry powder and chilis. What a burplicious dinner atm.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Do you still remember how Sarali or Sirali taste?

-
Image
This "Sarali" is a childhood fruit for everyone who grew up in the Visayan area of the Philippines. Also known as  Flacourtia jangomas or Indian Plum or coffee plum, Sarali is best enjoyed by pressing one fruit between one's palm, move it in circular motion until tender, and pop the soft flesh quickly in one's mouth save the seeds. Just like apple, this fruit oxidizes quickly and thus, gets dark brown easily. It can give one's teeth a nasty brown shade. Sour with a hint of sweet, this is a must-try fruit. I believe, the fruit has an economic value just like sarguellas and lanzones. *** *** *** ***  Related readings:  Possible Treatment of Diabetes http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2959214/ Anti bacterial property:  http://www.ijplsjournal.com/issues%20PDF%20files/july2011/1.pdf
Read more

TIKUM KADLUM (The Enchanted Dog, The First of the Ten Epics of Panay Bukidnon)

-
Image
At the house. One day, Bulawanon engaged the help of Tikum Kadlum, a hunting dog with the gift of sensing the spirits, in cooking rice for his husband Paiburong and his brother Dumaraog who will be going hunting. When the rice was cooked, the brothers ate fast. Then, while Bulawanon packed the betel nut for her husband, Paiburong and Dumaraog dressed themselves, with Dumaraog suggesting they match their sashes and belts, since he is his brother's loyal protector. To complete their hunting preparations, the two brought out their long-bladed sharp knives, shields, spears, and lances from their gold chest and wall hanger. When everything is set, Paiburong bade goodbye to his wife, Bulawanon, who reminded her husband to be careful as he might meet in the forest one named Makabagting, who is accompanied by a man-eating woman called Muwa. Makabagting is a nobleman and a warrior who is widely known as having tasted human flesh. Paiburong went out of his house, and he heard a sound. It
Read more

The Legend of Isla Gigantes in Carles, Iloilo*

-
Image
The Legend of Isla Gigantes in Carles, Iloilo* In a place called Punta Bulakawe in the town of Carles, there was a childless couple who endlessly asked for a child. They were blessed with a son who grew up too fast. Too fast he grew that he can no longer enter thier house when he was one and all men were only as tall as his knees. The giant child grew up and spent his adolescence in a mountain known as the Beheya Hill. Everytime this giant walked, the surroundings shook. Each of his step meant earthquake for everyone. This made everyone fear him. Because of his steps, he was called Higante Tay-og -- literally means Giant Quake. Higante Tay-og decided to remain in Beheya Hill which he could access by two or three steps only. To entertain himself, he learned to smoke cigars. Each time he exhale smoke from his cigar, the surroundings dim. When he accidentally inhaled the smoke, he coughed; the folks feared it like thunder that shook the surro
Read more