Eat Drink Man Woman

One of my personal faves. Classic Asian family dynamics of face, tradition, age, respect, taste and tension between old and new. There are some amazing cooking scenes as the father is a master chef at a Taipei 5 star hotel. One scene in particular takes place as the banquet kitchen is in full swing. The camera zooms in and around the cooks dogging fire and wok flying vegetables as speeding gueridons race into the banquet hall. Its an adrenaline rush far beyond the likes of a Hollywood digital action flick.

Every Sunday Chef Chu cooks lunch for his 3 beautiful albeit emotionally challenged daughters. Tension is thick between all as the food is passed over with malaise. The cooking scenes here are full of finesse and grace.

There is a surprising twist at the end and necessary resolution to some of the old conflicts. I love the line “you helped me taste again”….This is one of the all time greats!