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June brings the first day of summer and that means a host of cookouts, picnics, and food-centric holidays. The delight we take in food is more than just about its taste. Often, certain foods hold memories of experiences, relationships, eras, and emotions that we hold dear. When used well, food in films becomes more than just background texture. It can also evoke subconscious emotions and can help strengthen the narrative of the story. We take a delicious dive into some movies with memorable food scenes and how they relate to the film as a whole.
A Christmas Story: The Turkey
A Christmas Story is a classic film that brings the experience of a family Christmas in the late 30s to life. Food is prevalent throughout the story. We get a glimpse of typical family meals as Ralphie’s younger brother refuses to eat or play with his food. Ralphie eagerly listens to Little Orphan Annie, which advertises Ovaltine with his secret code breaker messages. The turkey at the end of the film ties together the quintessential 30s family menu with a food, symbolic of both the holiday spirit and Ralphie’s desire for a perfect Christmas.
The turkey represents the idea that even through the stress, difficulties, and disappointments of life, food helps unify and bring us together in the end. As the centerpiece of the Christmas dinner, the turkey’s untimely demise could easily dampen the holiday spirit. But Ralphie’s father pulls the family together and brings them to a Chinese restaurant for Christmas dinner. As the family celebrates in the only open establishment on Christmas, they experience a different culture and a joy that can’t be quenched by outward circumstances.
Ratatouille In Ratatouille
Ratatouille is more than just a film about food. It is also about friendship, family, and figuring out how to pursue your passions. The ratatouille that Remy makes Anton Ego, does what good movies and great food are supposed to. It transports Ego to another time and place full of emotion and delight. Remy’s undaunted spirit in the face of all his adversities helps him choose to do the right thing, even if it means harsh consequences. His decision to make ratatouille for Ego echoes this clarity. Remy does not serve the fanciest or most exotic dish, but rather sticks to the basics and shows Ego his mastery with flavor and cooking.
Not only is ratatouille the name of the film, but it also serves as an example of what any food can be. Even though it is a simple dish made of layers of veggies, Remy creates a savoring experience that goes beyond just filling an empty stomach. Ratatouille shows us that pursuing our passions can sometimes seem ridiculous and impossible. After all, in what world is a rat the head chef of a Michelin starred restaurant? A humble mix of squash, eggplant, tomatoes, and potato can become the dish that impresses Anton Ego. Ratatouille proves we too can become something great if we work hard and aim for excellence.
Kung Fu Panda: Noodles
Po’s adopted dad, Ping, makes the best noodles in town and helps fuel Po’s training as the Dragon Warrior. His passion for creating good food mirrors Po’s desire to be a great warrior. As Master Oogway and Shifu guide Po’s mental and martial arts education, Mr. Ping nourishes his physical needs with food.
Though Ping doesn’t always understand Po’s desire for a career outside of the noodle shop, he supports his dreams just as his father did before him. As Po proves himself to be the Dragon Warrior, Mr. Ping shows his love and devotion to his son by rebranding his shop and using his son’s fame to sell more noodles.
The noodles in Kung Fu Panda represent Po’s roots as a noodle shop waiter. His extreme love for food is only rivaled by his desire to be a warrior that protects China. The traditional Chinese meals and snacks that Po craves also introduces the western audience to the diversity of foreign foods.
When Po asks his father what the secret is to making the noodles so delicious, Ping reveals that there is no physical “secret” ingredient. The care Ping puts into while creating the food is what makes it shine. This translates to the affection and love Ping gives to Po as his son. Whether Po is outwardly successful at being a cook, warrior, or Kung fu fighter, Ping believes Po is special and that is what makes him worthy.
To make something special you just have to believe it’s special.
(( Mr. Ping ))
The Fellowship Of The Ring: Bilbo’s Cake
The extravagant celebration of Bilbo’s birthday happens before Frodo’s adventure in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy even begins. The Hobbit’s love for the comforts of home, family, and friends was brought together in the long-awaited party for Bilbo’s eleventy-first birthday. At the party, there is an impossibly large cake that looks to feed the hundreds of guests in attendance.
The cake is more than just a birthday centerpiece. It is a picture of everything Frodo is striving to protect from the darkness of Sauron. It signifies the abundance and comfort that Frodo leaves behind to fulfill the mission to destroy the ring of power.
The food in the Lord Of The Rings films helps flesh out the societies and regions that the characters travel through. From the feasts of the eleven halls to Eowyn’s fish soup in Rohan, nothing quite compares to the simple but hearty fare of the halflings. During the darkest of times in Mordor, Sam holds onto the memories of strawberries and cream, referenced in Bilbo’s design on film cake, to keep himself going. Food not only keeps us going physically but often the promise of food creates a goal worth fighting for.
The Purpose Of Food In Film
These foods not only add texture to films, but they also hold deeper meaning as part of the narrative. Good films appeal to more than just our visual and auditory senses. Stimulating our taste and olfactory senses helps round out our entertainment experience.
Foods that are used well in films often make us crave the delicious images we see and connect us with the world where the movie is set. Furthermore, it hopefully inspires us to learn how to create such masterpieces ourselves. As we celebrate summer with national food days and outdoor food fun, let’s also enjoy the takes on foods that our favorite films bring us as well.
