Germany
How to Cook Your Life
Review by Zandro Salvo.
The German documentary How to Cook Your Life from director Doris Dörrie tackles the unlikely pairing of Zen Buddhism and breadbaking. Chronicling the life of Zen-/Bread Baking-Master Espe Brown, the film follows him from Austria to California as he practices his culinary spiritualism. Brown is definitely charismatic. His frustration for cooking-inept newcomers contrasts his simple and peaceful spirituality providing many comedic moments. Still, Brown’s lovable quality is not strong enough to carry what the film is truly about (paraphrasing the film’s philosophy) “if you want to make the bread, make the bread”. After watching the film, one will truly knows whether they are a Bhuddist, a baker, or in need of the 93 minutes they just lost. With little exploration into Brown’s character other than the two most obvious facets, the gist of the movie is clear in its first five minutes. Perhaps that is the film’s intention, perhaps one must use their inner energy to truly focus on the task at hand, remove all other distractions from their mind, and just watch the film – I know I had to summon my spiritual energies to do just that. Judging from the very noticeable groups either leaving or sleeping, the film did provide peace and calm, but perhaps it could have at least provided a pillow and some warm bread to go with it.
How to Cook Your Life
Doris Dörrie | Germany | 2006 | 93min
Sat. Sept. 29 | 4:00pm | Ridge Theatre
Wed. Oct. 3 | 7:15pm | Empire Granville Theatre
Wed. Oct. 10 | 2:30pm | Empire Granville Theatre
Comments
I also reviewed the film at my blog. It was a masterful juxtaposition of two nuanced, complex and meaningful topics that often get glossed over in the hyperattentive urban life. And it's funny in an offbeat, cheery sort of way, but perhaps I've had enough initiation into the character of this sort of experience to stay wide awake and enraptured through the entire film.
Posted by: Karen | October 28, 2007 12:55 PM