Movie review: The Hundred Foot Journey - food for the soul

The Hundred Foot Journey is an entertaining clash of gastronomy and culture .

In The Hundred Foot Journey, the protagonists and the audience will both embark on a journey. You will laugh, smile, wonder and be immersed in the surroundings of a picturesque small town in the mountains of France where two beautiful (and delicious) cultures clash, mingle and eventually harmonise. In short, you will see a Hollywood-Bollywood fusion done so well, it will leave you asking for more.

The movie depicts the initial struggle of an Indian family that has moved to France after losing their matriarch (Juhi Chawla) to the fires of a local riot. It is about their belligerent yet funny competition and subsequent truce with a French lady who owns a neighbouring local restaurant and how she ends up nurturing the talent of the Indian boy who is a gifted cook.



In its soul, The Hundred-Foot Journey centres on introducing the audience to the beliefs and lifestyles of two diverse cultures. While food is the main medium, the movie does a good job in introducing us to so many qualities of Indian and French life. Unlike most documentaries, however, it does this in a manner that is entertaining and fun to watch.

As always Helen Mirren is phenomenal. She modulates her performance from a nasty, uptight competitor to a likable, helpful friend with such subtlety that it’s a treat to watch the transformation. Om Puri plays the stubborn father role to the letter. While he is the funniest character in the movie, his humour is only one part of his character and not the whole package. His pride and morals push the character to even greater heights.

The young aspiring chef protagonist Hassan Kadam is portrayed by Manish Dayal, who proves himself beyond his good looks. Unlike other pretty boys, Dayal can act without going to extremes and does a nice job at covering the emotional spectrum required by the character. Playing his counterpart Margaritte is Charlotte Le Bon, who is mousy, energetic and upbeat. And again, this is only one component of her character for she too is susceptible to the less pleasant qualities that dwell within us all. But it is the chemistry between these two that helps bring the story to life.

Despite all its strengths, The Hundred Foot Journey is not a perfect movie. It is predictable and there are times when it reminds one of Ratatouille — the in-kitchen rivalry between sous-chefs. Although the various culinary delights certainly look sumptuous, the parade of colourful foods and dinner servings continually upstages most of the characters in the film.

Lasse Hallstrom’s gift for direction, is however the movie’s strongest asset. He knows how to make a well-crafted film and can make even the most mundane things seem interesting. The screen writing is alchemy, where humour, drama, courage, challenge, redemption and love blend in perfectly. The soundtrack from AR Rahman is also atmospheric and fitting. The camerawork is fantastic and the French countryside looks simply stunning through the lens.

Overall, The Hundred Foot Journey is heartwarming and fascinating cinema. It is a great movie for the entire family to watch and has everything you need to feel good — comedy, drama and most importantly a sweet ending.

Rating: 4/5 

Samra Muslim is a digital marketing professional, an avid reader and a movie buff. She tweets @samramuslim

Published in The Express Tribune, Sunday Magazine, September 28^th, 2014.