1. The obvious moral described throughout the movie -“Anyone can cook”.
A very nice explanation given to this statement at the end of the movie: “Not everyone can become a great artist. But a great artist can come from anywhere”
2. A very flattering description of humans given by the rat, Remy , goes like this :
“There’s something about them .. They discover.. they create ..”
What a unique way of presenting humanity – through the eyes of someone who’s not human!!
So caught up are we in evaluating ourselves based on society’s definition of success that we don’t appreciate the greatest gift god has bestowed upon us – that of “creation”.
“Creation” need not mean we dive into rocket science and come up with a complicated formula . Haven’t we tried our hand in the kitchen and “created “ a delicious dish ? Haven’t we told a joke that “created” laughter around us?
Why , then , do we reprimand ourselves severely for the happiness we feel out of these everyday creations?
3.While raising children , along with the food , parents also feed them dreams about what they want the children to become in life. As long as the child’s dream co – incides with the parents, life is pretty . Often, when it does not, it leads to turbulence.
The dilemma faced by Remy while asked to choose between family and his dreams is brought out beautifully with a statement he makes “I cannot choose between two halves of myself “.
4. “Each flavour was totally unique. But combine one flavour with another and something new was created”
Underneath the surface of this seemingly shallow statement lies a thought so profound that any amount of elaboration cannot capture its beauty.
Try replacing “flavour” with “idea”.
A simple example – R K Laxman’s “Common man” . He blended his unique talent of cartooning with a few portions of humour and seasoned it with a pinch of day to day affairs that connected with every layman. And voila ! A successful new recipe created.
As Remy describes it with fervour “Now, imagine every great taste in the world being combined into infinite combinations . Taste that no one has tried yet. Discoveries to be made !!”
5.A dialogue from the movie :
“Food always comes to those who love to cook”
A quote by Paulo Coelho in “The Alchemist” :
“When you truly want something , all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it”
6.Another dialogue:
“All we do is take .I’m tired of taking. I want to MAKE things .I want to add something to this world.”
What a inspiring thought !
We can sit our whole lives complaining about what life has given us.
Or , we can ask ourselves right now “What have I given to life ? “
7.A very interesting argument between father and son deserves some highlight:
“This is the way things are. You can’t change nature.”
“Change IS nature, Dad. The part that we can influence. And it starts when we decide “
“Where are you going ?”
“With luck , forward”
8. “You've been playing without an opponent. Which is, as you may have guessed,
against the rules.”
What fun in playing a game if you’re not up against a worthy opponent ?
9.Gusteau , the chef in the movie, speaks passionately about food “Good food is like music you can taste. Colour you can smell “.
The best justice you can do to a good meal is to savour its taste. Food , very much like life , is not meant to be hurried through. Enjoy each bite fully and completely without worrying where the next morsel will come from.
10. “In many ways, the work of a critic is easy.
We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism which is fun to write and to read”
What can I say ? Finding a positive quality in something and valuing it above the negative quality is a gift very few have.
11.One of the ending lines in the climax goes like this:
“ Last night I experienced something new, an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source”
Upon reaching the climax of my article , here’s what I have to say – Last night I experienced something new , an extraordinary meal with food for thought from a singularly unexpected movie.
And by re creating that meal I hope to serve those hungry for some fresh “perspective”
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"I cannot choose between two halves of myself"
ReplyDeleteSomehow I had missed this line from the movie. Loved reading the post.
Always a joy beyond measure to take up a thought think it through, apply it and see the world from a different prism. Wish more creationg are in the offing on this blog!