Plots(1)
Eating, and the enjoyment of good food is the leitmotif of a series of films and events entitled KULINARISCHES KINO. Dieter Kosslick: "The battle for good, healthy food is just as important as the battle to preserve the diversity of independent cinema all over the world. It's about the survival of small and medium-sized firms; about trying to stem the monopolisation of images and the destruction of the environment through industry; culture and agriculture are two sides of the same coin; good food and responsible behaviour are not contradictive."
Besides a selection of cinematic gems of recent years, this programme also includes six premieres. There are a striking number of Asian films or Asian topics in this season, such as BUSHI NO ICHIBUN by the masterful director Yoji Yamada, which is also screening in the Panorama; Doris Dörrie's documentary, HOW TO COOK YOUR LIFE, about Zen chef Edward Brown, and ZA YAKINIKU MUBI: PURUKOGI, a comedy by Su-yeon Gu about offal and red meat. Les Blank and Gina Leibrecht's ALL IN THIS TEA takes a look at the tea trade in China, while the subject of slow food is examined in the witty documentary THE REAL DIRT ON FARMER JOHN, as well as in the evening of short films SLOW FOOD ON FILM, and a documentary about the coffee trade, BLACK GOLD, by Marc and Nick Francis.
THE CHICKEN, THE FISH & THE KING CRAB by José Luis López-Linares is a work-in-progress for a documentary about the world cuisine contest "Bocuse d'Or". The final evening of the series is devoted to wine, with a screening of Alexander Payne's SIDEWAYS. This showing will be moderated by wine expert Stuart Pigott.
Complementing the film programme are a series of menus by Berlin's five top chefs - Bobby Bräuer, Michael Hoffmann, Thomas Kammeier, Kolja Kleeberg and Tim Raue - moderated by gourmet Alfred Biolek.
(Berlinale)