The Taste of Things: it’s been a while since a film was so much an epicurean spectacle as TRẤN Anh Hùng’s gentle and pleasurable if a bit slow, drama. The focus is on a gourmet and his relationship with his long-time cook, on many meals and the fastidious details of their preparation. If the film is a bit light on story, it is a visual feast. Director of Photography Jonathan Ricquebourg gives the images beautiful and sunny colours, showcasing the details of the foodstuff, and gently moving the camera around the action during the dialogue (which, more often than not, is about food). Production designer Toma Baqueni created a lovely set, particularly the crucial kitchen where so much of the action takes place. The director makes the unusual choice of forgoing music almost completely, which allows the sound design, focusing on the sounds of nature and the cooking activities, to take precedence. The performances, by Juliette Binoche (as the cook) and Benoît Magimel (as the gourmet), are quietly effective and easygoing.