Cinematography is the strongest aspect of this film. Some scenes look like paintings by Dutch Golden Age or Flemish Baroque artists. I had to pause several times to admire the tables tastefully laid with food. However, the main focus of the plot is not on food, like most of the reviewers seem to think. It shows the viewer why revolutions happen. Up until the rather stupid, highly unrealistic Hollywood-style happy ending. I guess the ending is the reason the film is listed as a comedy? Which it is not.
33 Reviews
This is beautifully-filmed movie about food
steiner-sam22 November 2021
It's set in 1789 France just before the Revolution in a rural fictional dukedom of Chamfort. It tells the story of the invention of the modern restaurant concept in a time when only the nobility ate well.
Pierre Manceron (Grégory Gadebois) is the master chef for Le duc de Chamfort (Benjamin Lavernhe). Chamfort loves Manceron's cooking, but insists that he stick to set menus and not be creative in his recipes. When Manceron creates a little appetizer he calls "Délicieux" that contains potato, Manceron is dismissed after refusing to apologize for serving such a dish.
He returns to his rural home with his son, Benjamin (Lorenzo Lefèbvre), and together with an elderly mentor, Jacob (Christian Bouilette) runs a relay (postal) station that also serves basic food. Suddenly, a mysterious woman appears and asks to be Manceron's cooking apprentice. Louise (Isabelle Carré) claims to a former jam maker, but Manceron believes she actually must have been a prostitute. He refuses to accept her for a time, but ultimately agrees to train her.
They create dishes based on local produce and local livestock, and begin to attract a significant clientele. The duke is intrigued, misses his cook who he has not been able satisfactorily to replace, and offers to stop by for a traditional feast. If successful he'll invite Manceron back into service.
The film then takes a sharp departure into the pre-Revolution politics of the day, we learn the truth of Louise's background, and the story unfolds in unexpected ways.
This is beautifully-filmed movie. The scenes of food preparation reminded me of "Babette's Feast." The unfolding interaction between Manceron, Benjamin (who is pro-class struggle), and Louise is well done. The sharp departure two-thirds of the way into the movie started to to make it go off the rails for me. I expect minimal plausibility in historical films; this one drifted too far in its link to the French Revolution and ended somewhat unsatisfactorily.
Still, the cinematography and the initial storyline made it a good watch.
Pierre Manceron (Grégory Gadebois) is the master chef for Le duc de Chamfort (Benjamin Lavernhe). Chamfort loves Manceron's cooking, but insists that he stick to set menus and not be creative in his recipes. When Manceron creates a little appetizer he calls "Délicieux" that contains potato, Manceron is dismissed after refusing to apologize for serving such a dish.
He returns to his rural home with his son, Benjamin (Lorenzo Lefèbvre), and together with an elderly mentor, Jacob (Christian Bouilette) runs a relay (postal) station that also serves basic food. Suddenly, a mysterious woman appears and asks to be Manceron's cooking apprentice. Louise (Isabelle Carré) claims to a former jam maker, but Manceron believes she actually must have been a prostitute. He refuses to accept her for a time, but ultimately agrees to train her.
They create dishes based on local produce and local livestock, and begin to attract a significant clientele. The duke is intrigued, misses his cook who he has not been able satisfactorily to replace, and offers to stop by for a traditional feast. If successful he'll invite Manceron back into service.
The film then takes a sharp departure into the pre-Revolution politics of the day, we learn the truth of Louise's background, and the story unfolds in unexpected ways.
This is beautifully-filmed movie. The scenes of food preparation reminded me of "Babette's Feast." The unfolding interaction between Manceron, Benjamin (who is pro-class struggle), and Louise is well done. The sharp departure two-thirds of the way into the movie started to to make it go off the rails for me. I expect minimal plausibility in historical films; this one drifted too far in its link to the French Revolution and ended somewhat unsatisfactorily.
Still, the cinematography and the initial storyline made it a good watch.
Delicious movie
aheaven200527 September 2021
Gorgeous food drama
ekveland29 December 2021
Well shot, well acted, entertaining and will have you salivating. Please eat beforehand. Gets a bit ridiculous when going overboard with having LITERALLY EVERYTHING being invented by the two sidekicks, from menus to pommes frites to table service to desserts and cheese platters. But it's so engaging that it's easily overlooked.
Interesting film with a focus on food
lorraine-benn21 March 2021
After chef Manceron is sacked by his fussy aristocratic boss, a woman appears out of nowhere and asks him to let her be an apprentice chef. He is unwilling as he thinks that chefs should all be males. She hands him some money for her tuition fees and finally pursuades him to teach her. He teaches her how to identify plants suitable for eating, and how to cook animals. She becomes an excellent cook, and we see some of the delicious looking food that she produces. We learn about the poverty of the local peasants and how many are starving. The arrogance and condescending attitude of the Duc de Chamfort and his fellow aristocrats give us a taste of the unfair treatment given to the poorer people which eventually led to the French Revolution.
Fun, full of food, unrelated to any actual history
jimcheva18 April 2022
Since this film begins with a history of dining out before the restaurant and is touted as being the story of the first restaurant, let me start by saying I'm an actual food historian. I know not only the REAL history of the first restaurant, but the far lesser known story of eateries before that. This film has NOTHING to do with any of that. It reminds me somewhat of the disastrous "Affair of the Necklace" which took an actual and interesting story featuring an anti-heroine and made it into a banal tale starring an idealized and completely invented heroine. In this case, whatever is going on has nothing to do with any real food history and is something of a hodgepodge of (very appetizing) eating scenes and a basically familiar tale of a lesser-status man resisting power and confronting an aristocrat in a way reminiscent of one of Clint Eastwood's heros in his early films. Almost nothing about the intrigue is credible for anyone who knows the period. For a food historian, there are a few cute touches, starting with the suicide of a "La Varenne" early on. This is kind of an in-joke, since La Varenne wrote the first major cookbook to show the newer approach to French cuisine, but in the previous century. The reference to French fries is casual, but blithely ignores the actual chronology of their appearance in France. Never mind that the first restaurant was established long before the Revolution began to foment. The main story here - delivered carelessly and with little regard for history - is the beginning of the overturn of the Old Regime. But to the degree that that story is told it is in a very metaphorical and allusive way unrelated, again, to actual history. This is basically a lively costume drama with a lot of food.
Entertaining and a joy to watch
tm-sheehan21 January 2022
My Rating 9/10
I'm no expert on Foreign cinema but I know what I like and I liked Delicious very much .
I just judge any film in any language on my own test.
Just 3 criteria. : Was it well produced and enjoyable to watch ?
Was I interested in the characters and story.?
And were the performances convincing?
And this French film DÉLICIEUX (Delicious) gets a high score in each category from me.
Writer/director Éric Besnard's mouth-watering new historical comedy indelibly pairs Grégory Gadebois and Isabelle Carré as a gifted chef and his unlikely protégé, who must find the resolve to free themselves from servitude.
In 1789 France, just prior to the Revolution.
Very loosely based on true events because as my research informs me in reality, the first restaurant is generally considered to be Le Grande Taverne des Londres in Paris, which opened a handful years before Delicious is set. However it's refreshing to see a delightful film that imaginatively does a flavourful job of marrying an origin story of sorts with its French Revolution-adjacent historical context.
Delicious joins other films that feature gastronomical delights like Chocolat. Babette's Feast , Julie and Julia , Eat Drink Man Woman and No Reservations but it's more than just a foodie movie it's intelligent heart warming and very entertaining.
I'm no expert on Foreign cinema but I know what I like and I liked Delicious very much .
I just judge any film in any language on my own test.
Just 3 criteria. : Was it well produced and enjoyable to watch ?
Was I interested in the characters and story.?
And were the performances convincing?
And this French film DÉLICIEUX (Delicious) gets a high score in each category from me.
Writer/director Éric Besnard's mouth-watering new historical comedy indelibly pairs Grégory Gadebois and Isabelle Carré as a gifted chef and his unlikely protégé, who must find the resolve to free themselves from servitude.
In 1789 France, just prior to the Revolution.
Very loosely based on true events because as my research informs me in reality, the first restaurant is generally considered to be Le Grande Taverne des Londres in Paris, which opened a handful years before Delicious is set. However it's refreshing to see a delightful film that imaginatively does a flavourful job of marrying an origin story of sorts with its French Revolution-adjacent historical context.
Delicious joins other films that feature gastronomical delights like Chocolat. Babette's Feast , Julie and Julia , Eat Drink Man Woman and No Reservations but it's more than just a foodie movie it's intelligent heart warming and very entertaining.
"Culinary" Gems
jathton-242486 February 2022
This movie was a genuine pleasure to watch... in my book it ranks way up there with a few other movies that use food and cooking as the centerpiece around which the plot was built. Chef, The Hundred Foot Journey, The Big Night, Tortilla Soup, Babette's Feast, Burnt, Chocolat and Dinner Rush are the main ones that come to mind.
Delicious, and these others, stand out as exemplary stories... beautifully photographed, directed and acted.
The natural lighting used for interior scenes sets a very high standard for fellow cinematographers... The food looked so good I wanted to try "The Delicious" myself.
The directing was right up there with the work of Lasse Hallstrom.
And I will watch all day long the subtle acting of this fine ensemble cast... preferring it to the "obnoxious excess of personality" many actors bring to a role.
To sum it up............... incroyable !!!
Delicious, and these others, stand out as exemplary stories... beautifully photographed, directed and acted.
The natural lighting used for interior scenes sets a very high standard for fellow cinematographers... The food looked so good I wanted to try "The Delicious" myself.
The directing was right up there with the work of Lasse Hallstrom.
And I will watch all day long the subtle acting of this fine ensemble cast... preferring it to the "obnoxious excess of personality" many actors bring to a role.
To sum it up............... incroyable !!!
Impressed me without stepping outside of the box
mesaxi21 November 2022
I went in expecting a somewhat schmaltzy, feel-good movie and that's what I got. But it was a beautifully done and sets itself apart from many other movies that follow the same formula with beautiful direction an underlying message of being true to a passion. It was exactly what I needed after a string of downers.
There are some tropes and cliches, any seasoned moviegoer will be able to predict the plot as it unfolds. I was unfamiliar with the cast; everybody played their parts well, but nobody particularly stood out to me. The production design was outstanding, it was a simple movie about simple people so less was more. Sometimes a simple, direct approach is the best route.
There are some tropes and cliches, any seasoned moviegoer will be able to predict the plot as it unfolds. I was unfamiliar with the cast; everybody played their parts well, but nobody particularly stood out to me. The production design was outstanding, it was a simple movie about simple people so less was more. Sometimes a simple, direct approach is the best route.
Wonderful movie about food and passion
lily_hardygirl28 October 2021
A solid period drama about class and food
Jeremy_Urquhart13 March 2021
I get the opportunity to write the first reviews on this site for a new release, and like an absolute muppet I fall asleep at some point in the first half hour for about 10 minutes 😓
But it had been a busy day, I'd just gone for a big run, and to be fair, the movie was a little slow going at first.
Thankfully, it picked up in its second half once the story got a bit more focused, and I managed to stay awake and engaged. I liked the look of the film, the attention to detail with period costumes and settings, and the ending was solid too.
And it goes without saying but the dishes really did look super yummy and it made me incredibly hungry, so definitely try to have a meal either beforehand or during if you plan to watch this lol.
But it had been a busy day, I'd just gone for a big run, and to be fair, the movie was a little slow going at first.
Thankfully, it picked up in its second half once the story got a bit more focused, and I managed to stay awake and engaged. I liked the look of the film, the attention to detail with period costumes and settings, and the ending was solid too.
And it goes without saying but the dishes really did look super yummy and it made me incredibly hungry, so definitely try to have a meal either beforehand or during if you plan to watch this lol.
French Cinema At Its Best
mzand-751-53957212 January 2022
Set in 1789, right before the French revolution, a brilliant chef is sacked by his patron, an arrogant and decadent duke, for refusing to apologize for his innovative and delicious new dish. With the help of his son and a mysterious woman, who becomes his apprentice, they take a run-down roadside inn and create the modern French restaurant.
A simple story, right? But it's in the execution where this movie shines. Anchored by brilliant performances from top to bottom, this film takes flight with some of the most beautiful cinematography showcasing the French countryside and depictions of cooking and food seen in years. A lot of the scenes look like they were painted by old Dutch masters like Rubens or Rembrandt. Unlike a lot of French films, Delicious never stops the story with characters philosophizing about the meaning of life. The people in this world are straight-forward, clear thinking with practical agendas. This creates real tension and drama in a film that is ostensibly about cooking and food and makes for the one of the most enjoyable movies coming out of France in the last few years.
A simple story, right? But it's in the execution where this movie shines. Anchored by brilliant performances from top to bottom, this film takes flight with some of the most beautiful cinematography showcasing the French countryside and depictions of cooking and food seen in years. A lot of the scenes look like they were painted by old Dutch masters like Rubens or Rembrandt. Unlike a lot of French films, Delicious never stops the story with characters philosophizing about the meaning of life. The people in this world are straight-forward, clear thinking with practical agendas. This creates real tension and drama in a film that is ostensibly about cooking and food and makes for the one of the most enjoyable movies coming out of France in the last few years.
Delightful
bohemianrh24 December 2021
Great Food Movie
dougiec316 July 2022
We have gotten into watching series and movies with food as a central part of the story, such as "Midnight Diner" and "Burnt". We tried "The Bear" but, in spite of being set in a sandwich shop it's basically about a horribly dysfunctional family with food only incidental to the story.
"Delicious", set just before the French revolution meets all the necessities of a food movie, plus a beautiful setting with period costumes and even a dramatic confrontation that also pivots on food.
Highly recommended!
"Delicious", set just before the French revolution meets all the necessities of a food movie, plus a beautiful setting with period costumes and even a dramatic confrontation that also pivots on food.
Highly recommended!
It sort of like new restaurants in old times
alimish-8434622 October 2022
I don't quite get the high ratings in here. The story doesn't really make any sense, it is simply story with weird illogical twists. How they generate money or losing them or doing good bad or getting equipment is out of the movie. I guess this was the comedy part, like the fire and accident, making profit, having tables outside or barons eating at "gas stations". That romance was unnecessary it is about that she is woman and he is man and she even wants make assassination which the chef would be blamed for. I was waiting for Michelin judges at the end so they could add how they prepare in 2 hours to get 3 stars.
Great Fictional Story on the Borders of French History
Breumaster26 August 2022
It's not only a movie about cuisine, earlier times, cooking and eating. It's a decent pearl of acting and story-telling. The relationships between the characters are the power of this pearl.
I shortly can say that I loved every aspect of this movie!
The story, the setting, the acting, the character drawing and developement, the directing, the production design, the ..., the ..., the ... . It's one of the rare movies that transport an interesting story easily. It's no effort to watch it. It's 1h54, but feels shorter to watch. Every minute is interesting in itself! There was no flaw in it - in my humble opinion. One of the perfect entertaining movies in a higher way. I love it, even though I know there won't be the delightment for everyone. No action, no CGI, no modern words.
I would recommend it to movie-lovers who like the times when there were no modern techniques around and story-driven movies which live by decent acting, good story-writing, near to perfect production designs and fitting atmospheres of movies according to earlier centuries.
I shortly can say that I loved every aspect of this movie!
The story, the setting, the acting, the character drawing and developement, the directing, the production design, the ..., the ..., the ... . It's one of the rare movies that transport an interesting story easily. It's no effort to watch it. It's 1h54, but feels shorter to watch. Every minute is interesting in itself! There was no flaw in it - in my humble opinion. One of the perfect entertaining movies in a higher way. I love it, even though I know there won't be the delightment for everyone. No action, no CGI, no modern words.
I would recommend it to movie-lovers who like the times when there were no modern techniques around and story-driven movies which live by decent acting, good story-writing, near to perfect production designs and fitting atmospheres of movies according to earlier centuries.
Marvelous!
jodyscott3118 August 2022
Such an intriguing movie! My 79-year-old father and I absolutely loved every second of this movie. We had to stop the movie several times so my dad could read the subtitles in a timely fashion, but the spoken French was beautiful to listen to as well. The plot was captivating, the acting phenomenal, the scenery lovely, and the music beautiful. We both want to watch this magnificent film again soon!
Peinture d'une époque
tcochois2 February 2022
Technically mediocre made romantic flic
WinstonNoCGI4 January 2022
I don't focus on the film's story but rather on the technical skill levels applied.
* Dramatic Composition: Poor From my perspective, the movie wasn't able to convey a lot of emotion. Character backgrounds stayed vague. All characters stood stiff, like being nailed to the floor. Dialogues had been sparse. There was not a single dialog that would have been driving the story forward. For example: Right at the beginning, when the chef is fired, the duke's emotion confines to staying seated, merely waggling his cheeks and shouting the chef's name. Then silence ... That's all we get to see as a reasoning for why the chef is being fired and why he's feeling humiliated. Cut, next scene (as far as I remember): The chef's at his ole barn, sitting with his son and a neighbor. Not a single emotional comment on what's happened.
* Camera: Excellent The film comes with a plethora of short, beautiful still life sequences. Very nice. Still, I have a feeling that these still life sequences were just cribbed from already existing romantic painted art pictures.
* Lighting: Mediocre At many occasions in the movie, scenes were poorly lit. Lighting could have been much more dramatically set. For example: When the characters sit in the hut at night, there are no candle-like spots to highlight the texture of the room. Another example: When the apprentice enters the barn - was she supposed to be lit or kept dark? If she was supposed to be kept dark, then they should have kept her silhouette black, not just underexposed.
* Musical Score: A Nightmare The lack of dialogue and those many pauses were crying for some decent classic programme music to emphasize and convey the emotion of a scene. But all there was ... was silence.
* Conclusion The story of the film claims to enjoy all senses and to relish a good composition, but the presentation itself was merely focussing on a single sense: The visual one. My conclusion: In its mediocrity the film was not a piece of art.
* Dramatic Composition: Poor From my perspective, the movie wasn't able to convey a lot of emotion. Character backgrounds stayed vague. All characters stood stiff, like being nailed to the floor. Dialogues had been sparse. There was not a single dialog that would have been driving the story forward. For example: Right at the beginning, when the chef is fired, the duke's emotion confines to staying seated, merely waggling his cheeks and shouting the chef's name. Then silence ... That's all we get to see as a reasoning for why the chef is being fired and why he's feeling humiliated. Cut, next scene (as far as I remember): The chef's at his ole barn, sitting with his son and a neighbor. Not a single emotional comment on what's happened.
* Camera: Excellent The film comes with a plethora of short, beautiful still life sequences. Very nice. Still, I have a feeling that these still life sequences were just cribbed from already existing romantic painted art pictures.
* Lighting: Mediocre At many occasions in the movie, scenes were poorly lit. Lighting could have been much more dramatically set. For example: When the characters sit in the hut at night, there are no candle-like spots to highlight the texture of the room. Another example: When the apprentice enters the barn - was she supposed to be lit or kept dark? If she was supposed to be kept dark, then they should have kept her silhouette black, not just underexposed.
* Musical Score: A Nightmare The lack of dialogue and those many pauses were crying for some decent classic programme music to emphasize and convey the emotion of a scene. But all there was ... was silence.
* Conclusion The story of the film claims to enjoy all senses and to relish a good composition, but the presentation itself was merely focussing on a single sense: The visual one. My conclusion: In its mediocrity the film was not a piece of art.
Eye Candy
deanneperi11 July 2022
I felt like each set was a like a masterpiece painting, down to placement, lighting, setting, everything.
I don't normally watch subtitled movies, but this one caught me right away with it's visual splendor. Very charming movie.
I don't normally watch subtitled movies, but this one caught me right away with it's visual splendor. Very charming movie.
FREE on Youtube just now! A Foodie Lovers Fantastique!
wizardwizard29 July 2022
What a delight that youtube is so kindly posting these kinds of current delightful movies for FREE during this pandemic! "Delicious" simply showed up in my Youtube feed, like an amuse bouche: unexpeced and delightful!
Being a "Gastronomique" myself, I quite enjoyed the visual repast, the glorious cooking sequences, dining,, preparing and philosophizing about the culinary arts. This skillful cinematographer is equally fascinated
Of course this is a MOVIE, not to be mistaken for either a documentary, or historical reenactment..
The acting is wonderfully understated and oftentimes subtle. If you ONLY appreciate explosions and special effects, this may not be your cup of tea. The character development is exquisitely executed. Supporting actors were just as fascinating, well cast and well acted as the protagonists. A true ensemble woven community. These actors created a world that I became a part of.
Without divulging important plot points, I will say there are several unexpected plot twists that even the most alert mystery type viewer iwill not likely anticipate! Oh!
Exquisite costuming , gorgeous countryside, at times breathtaking imagery! A little romance, a little intrigue, family dynamics. Political pressures, overarching historical backdrop, work drama, out of box thinking, entrepreneurship, risk taking, social commentary, so many elements successfully intertwined into a short two hours!
If you have ever taken photos of a meal, this "DELICIEUX" movie will have elements that will delight you.
Highly recommend.
Being a "Gastronomique" myself, I quite enjoyed the visual repast, the glorious cooking sequences, dining,, preparing and philosophizing about the culinary arts. This skillful cinematographer is equally fascinated
Of course this is a MOVIE, not to be mistaken for either a documentary, or historical reenactment..
The acting is wonderfully understated and oftentimes subtle. If you ONLY appreciate explosions and special effects, this may not be your cup of tea. The character development is exquisitely executed. Supporting actors were just as fascinating, well cast and well acted as the protagonists. A true ensemble woven community. These actors created a world that I became a part of.
Without divulging important plot points, I will say there are several unexpected plot twists that even the most alert mystery type viewer iwill not likely anticipate! Oh!
Exquisite costuming , gorgeous countryside, at times breathtaking imagery! A little romance, a little intrigue, family dynamics. Political pressures, overarching historical backdrop, work drama, out of box thinking, entrepreneurship, risk taking, social commentary, so many elements successfully intertwined into a short two hours!
If you have ever taken photos of a meal, this "DELICIEUX" movie will have elements that will delight you.
Highly recommend.
No Interest
hubertguillaud6 March 2022
Delicious remains a film without stakes or intrigue. What is presented to us is an improbable reconstitution, to which we find it difficult to adhere as everything seems anachronistic. The only thing we find on the bread is that it is dripping with good conscience. The dish is bland and cold. It's a bit like watching a nice Gordon Ramsayt: it's quickly lost interest.
perfect sleeper
kayakval23 October 2022
We are all looking for the perfect sleeper movie. I found it. I am amazed at how great this movie is. Historical fiction, food, power to the people? What could be better.
Hollywood does so many things well that we often forget that they don't know how to make beautiful motion pictures. This one not only has stunning cinematography but it has a clever plot, great characters, surprising twists, and a fulfilling ending. I haven't stumbled on anything this good since Entre Nous. But that is not a good comparison, except that they are both great movies.
Cinema at its best. Watch it. You might agree.
Hollywood does so many things well that we often forget that they don't know how to make beautiful motion pictures. This one not only has stunning cinematography but it has a clever plot, great characters, surprising twists, and a fulfilling ending. I haven't stumbled on anything this good since Entre Nous. But that is not a good comparison, except that they are both great movies.
Cinema at its best. Watch it. You might agree.
Great film, not a comedy, more like "mildly-comedic drama"
gpjzxpfp20 March 2024
Great film, I enjoyed it through and through and loved the cooking scenes. It has good cinematography, and a good pace. However by no means would I consider it a comedy,
Theres one scene in the first 15mins that lasts around ~4mins thats supposed to be funny, but really just came out as cringy, then the only other thing I can think of that may have been supposed to be funny was something that lasted like 10 seconds.
Aside from that its a great period piece involving cooking, good acting, good characters, didn't feel slow at any point, but I must again specify that it's not a comedy, Atleast imo. Its a period cooking drama with mild comedic touches.
Theres one scene in the first 15mins that lasts around ~4mins thats supposed to be funny, but really just came out as cringy, then the only other thing I can think of that may have been supposed to be funny was something that lasted like 10 seconds.
Aside from that its a great period piece involving cooking, good acting, good characters, didn't feel slow at any point, but I must again specify that it's not a comedy, Atleast imo. Its a period cooking drama with mild comedic touches.
Delicious
snoducky10 October 2023
A warm hearted movie,
Simplistic movie with powerful highlights on food and the passion of cooking and being a chef. This movie shows cuisine in its true, full, bold and vibrant colours, a chef should look connected to his food as if it's a part of him and this movie Dow it perfectly. Beautiful cinematography, from the setting, language and shots this movie creates a warm, relaxed, peaceful atmosphere which makes a it a great movie to watch with company. The music is the cherry on top, music in my opinion weaves a movie together and if it's not fit for the vibe of the movie the film falls apart, this one manages to hold.
Solid recommendation.
Solid recommendation.
See also
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