2020-12-25
N/A
84 min
In the secret forests of Northern Italy, a dwindling group of joyful old men and their faithful dogs search for the world’s most expensive ingredient, the white Alba truffle. Their stories form a real-life fairy tale that celebrates human passion in a fragile land that seems forgotten in time.
There's a special alchemy to 'The Truffle Hunters' - a beautiful marriage of subject, form and intention that make it such an uplifting, entertaining and generous experience. Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw have so much love for these men, their world and their dogs, and share that love with us, daring us not to be charmed by what we see. 'The Truffle Hunters' is a gorgeous film, one that leaves you with a profound sense of the beauty of time, tradition and integrity, and the importance of preserving them.
Read Daniel's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-the-truffle-hunters-joy-and-dedication-in-the-dirt-of-northern-italy
I really enjoyed this documentary about four elderly gents - and their four legged friends - who quite literally scavenge the Piedmont countryside looking for one of the most valuable commodities known to culinary science. It takes a sort of fly-on-the-wall approach to exploring and sharing with us how these men operate, how their working practices have changed little since God was a boy. How they get ripped off by intermediaries who then sell these rare fungi onto the restaurant trade for exorbitant prices that only become more so when we have them in a restaurant - it really does give an whole new meaning to the "food chain". The subjects are real characters that provide us with a quirky and engaging look at this subsistence existence that really does entertain for just under ninety minutes. The camerawork - indeed, the entire production - is a little on the basic side, and the audio could do with a little bit of boosting, but somehow that all adds to the integrity of the film and of the men taking part. Next time you have truffle mash, or truffle fries - think on this and maybe it will help you enjoy the flavours just that little bit more.
