cinema

El Bulli : Cooking In Progress

Although the culinary 'movement' of molecular gastronomy may have lost some traction in recent years to the extreme locavorism of places such as Noma, Ferran Adria's El Bulli is still regarded as the ne plus ultra in the rarified world of super-luxe fine dining. If you found that something of a mouthful, then perhaps this is not the film for you. In fact Geroen Wetzel's documentary is not really 'about' food. This engrossing film is about the pursuit of a perceived notion of perfection. There is no attempt at narration, nor are any of the principles ever interviewed, we simply observe Adria and his brigade in their Barcelona lab/kitchen as they devise new wonders. Chefs taste obscure morsels and stare into the middle distance before exhaustively documenting the sensation. It is strangely fascinating and mildly erotic. / Mr & Mrs Stevens