Eat Drink Man Woman

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This is not a movie to see on an empty stomach. Writer-director Ang Lee's 1994 Oscar nominee tells a family story about a chef and his three daughters through the meals the chef prepares and serves his family. This touching, dryly funny story of a family coping with personal lives and the way those lives intersect with the family relationships captures a shift in generations in Taipei. The father, a famous chef who has lost his taste buds, still cooks, though he draws no pleasure from eating. His daughters, meanwhile, deal with both the disappointments and surprises of daily living and the way their adult lives compare to the expectations the widowed father had for them. A subtle, amusing--and mouth-watering--comedy of impeccable manners. --Marshall Fine

Description

From celebrated director Ang Lee (The Ice Storm, Sense and Sensibility) comes a movieso visually stunning that it spans the "beautiful balance of elementsmellow, harmonious and poignantly funny" (The Washington Post). This "charming study of love, family and tradition" (Leonard Maltin) "tickles both mind and body" (Movie Reviews UK). Trouble is cooking forwidower and master chef Chu (Sihung Lung) who's about to discover that no matter how dazzling and delicious his culinary creations might be, they're no match for the libidinous whims of his three beautiful but rebellious daughters. A master in the kitchen, Chu is at a loss when it comes to the ingredients of being a father. Every Sunday, he whips up a delicacy of dishes for his ungrateful daughters, who are so self-consumed that they don't see his attempt at showing them lovegastronomically.So, as relationships sour and communications break down, Chu concocts a sure-fire recipe that will bring his family back together: He creates his own love affair to rival his daughters' affections!

Customer Reviews:

Reminds us why we all watch movies.......2007-08-01

Something very strange happened to me the day I watched this movie. I view my disposition towards movies to be fairly disconnected; I can watch movies and be deeply involved in the experience, but once its over that temporary link is broken and I go about my life minding my business. It's been 4 years since I've cried to a film, and even then it felt forced; I was a naive kid who thought being able to cry would make the experience of movie watching more memorable. Since then, I decided to watch movies in a more objective manner, and I had believed that my heart had hardened; even when I tried to shed a tear over a beautiful scene, it just wouldn't happen anymore like before.

I sobbed like a baby watching this movie. Not just a tear, I was downright uncontrollable. It was a strange phenomenon, because on the surface this movie really did not seem like your typical tearjerker. It's first and foremost a fast-paced look at a Taiwanese family experiencing generational and gender conflict, with a healthy dose of good humor to keep things lively. But something about the film penetrated deep into my soul and ripped apart any emotional barriers I put on for movies. I was drawn into their struggle - sympathizing over their shortcomings, feeling helpless under the restrictions of society and tradition, and celebrating every exultation and beautiful moment that reminds you how fulfilling life can be.

Perhaps this is unfair - I thought - that since my judging of this film was obviously biased, that I could still give it a full rating. I could not be so easily drawn in if these problems and conflicts were also relevant to my life. That is probably the reason I cried - events in the film only stirred up personal feelings towards myself. Just how universal what I experienced was, I do not know. I really didn't know if it was fair that I give this movie a full review as a movie-watcher who has tried somewhat to be objective, when my strong impression of the film was so personal.

That's when it hit me - movies aren't meant to be examined like some impersonal roll of film. Movies are supposed to inspire emotions within us, to leave a lasting impression that evokes all our life passions and fears. To be a truly great movie watcher is to recognize which movies can have this profound effect on us. And for inspiring this realization with my now unabashed proclamation that this film drove me to tears, I am eternally grateful to Mr. Lee.

Eat Drink Man Woman.......2007-07-12

Though the film is Taiwanese, the emotions and issues feel universal, as captured by "Wedding Banquet" director Ang Lee. Exploring the conflicts and disappointments that arise in the daughters' personal lives and how they get reflected in their father's old-world expectations, this film is as much about family as food, though the magnificent kitchen scenes may have you phoning for Chinese take-out even before the closing titles. "Eat Drink" will stimulate your taste buds, and all other relevant parts.

Eat Drink Man Woman.......2007-05-29

One of my favorite movies and filmed on location in Tiawan. If you love cooking and find the oriental mind fascinating, you'll love this movie. This is the story of three daughter's relationships with their father and their relationship with food and tradition. Wonderful soundtrack also.

Of food, family, & love.......2007-04-07

The opening scene of this movie is one of my favorites: it begins with the elaborate preparation for a traditional Chinese dinner that can consist of several courses...the accompanying music goes along really well with the flow of food preparation and cooking! That being said, the movie itself has food at its heart, it tells the story of a family of four. The father, Senior Master Chef Chu lives in a fairly large house with his three unmarried daughters [wife is deceased]:the eldest is a repressed Christian convert, Jia Jen who is resentful of her more liberal middle sibling, the middle daughter, Jia Chien, is a rebellious and strong-willed airline executive that is having problems with her love life, & the youngest Jia Ning is a student. All three see their father for their weekly Sunday lunch, more out of obligation than anything else, and the rest of the story deals with how the three daughters find a measure of independence away from the father, and how Master Chef Chu himself finds a measure of happiness in his own life.
In a sense, although the film has a modern context, the values are quite traditional, such as the weekly family dinner which many Chinese families still observe, the notion of filial piety, the practice of unmarried daughters living with their parent/s [still observed in many Asian countries]...and of course, the notion of food bringing families together.
I love the presentation of food in this movie...the dishes are lovingly prepared with consummate skill, and are mouthwatering delicacies worthy of drooling over! It is a movie to watch not just for the great cooking scenes, but also for the deeper themes of family dynamics, and of honoring your elders, whilst still maintaining your own identity.

Great but subtle........2007-01-16

A beautiful movie, with fantastic food scenes. Will make you want to buy a wok. Loses some of the nuances in Eastern family communication. A little hard to understand the cut and dry behavior. But well worth watching, especially if you like "Tortilla Soup" the remake with a Hispanic flavor.

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