A TASTE OF HUNGER

 

Jeri Jacquin

Coming from writer/director Christoffer Boe and Magnolia Pictures is life and A TASTE OF HUNGER.

Carsten (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) is an up-and-coming chef looking to open a place of his own someday. He meets a very wild spirited Maggie (Katrine Greis-Rosenthal) and there is an instant connection that not only sparks their love of creating food but a life together.

Opening a restaurant together, the goal becomes beginning the chase of the ever-elusive Michelin star. Years have gone by and now the restaurant is a reality and Carsten is spending lots of time keeping it running smoothly. Maggie is running the household, taking care of daughter Chloe (Flora Augusta) and son August (August Vinkel) and their lives are hectic.

Working hard, Carsten becomes engrossed in every aspect of being a chef and Maggie sees him begin to push away. Out of frustration, she tries to relive her wild days all in one night, but the consequences are long lasting. It comes about when a mysterious letter arrives for Carsten, but Maggie finds it.

A few words on paper could destroy the journey to the stars, especially if there are too many chefs in the kitchen!

Coster-Waldau as Carsten is a driven chef and Maggie is his reason for it all. This character gets so wrapped up in a single drive that he forgets love, his family and those who have been there for him. It is a journey of hard lessons and Coster-Waldau makes sure we see every bit of it. The frustration, fear and everything in between.

Greis-Rosenthal as Maggie is drawn to Carsten and discovers they share such a vision together. She is a bit wild and that is an attractant to Carsten. There beginning is so filled with dreams, but Maggie also gets lost along the way. As a wife-mother, Greis-Rosenthal’s character tries to have it all and the ‘all’ goes to far until the consequences come due.

Augusta as Chloe is a young girl caught up in grown-ups’ games. This young actress shows such believable emotions that she stunned me with her performance. Trying to forgive parents that seem to be going a million miles an hour and are making huge mistakes, it is young Chloe that is keenly aware of it all.

Credit to Charlie Gustafsson as Frederick; a hungry sous chef who wants what he wants and will use people to get it. Frederick takes advantage and Maggie has to set it straight but, a rat is a rat.

Other cast includes Nicolas Bro as Torben, Maj-Britt Mathiesen as Pia, Dag Malmberg as Stellan, Rasmus Hammerich as Frank and Magnus Bruun as Andus.

Magnolia Pictures is responsible for such releases as SLAY THE DRAGON, JOHN LEWIS: Good Trouble, the crime thriller THE WHISTLERS, documentaries such as THE PIECES I AM and films such as the directorial debut of Italian filmmaker Filippo Meneghetti. For more of what they have to offer please visit www.magpictures.com.

A TASTE OF HUNGER shows its duality from beginning to end. Of course, it is a film about the beauty, brilliance, and hunger of chefs not to mention their struggles to succeed. Constantly having to be more creative, more inventive, and just, well, more – the stakes are extremely high.

The other is the hunger for life, family and love which also includes trying to fill emptiness with whatever looks good to make the pain go away. In this case, both Carsten and Maggie have to decide which beast to feed. More importantly, be willing to accept the consequences when they choose wrong.

The story of Carsten and Maggie is peppered with all the flavors with bitters mixed in. Beautifully done and lovely to watch, A TASTE OF HUNGER is an amazing piece of storytelling and simplistic filmmaking which made me enjoy it even more.

In the end – prepare your plate with perfection!

 

The DVD of EXIT PLAN Brings Many Decisions and Realities

Jeri Jacquin

On DVD from director Jonas Alexander Arnby and Screen Media is a journey of life and death when one has an EXIT PLAN.

Max Isaken (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) is an insurance adjuster who tries to help people with their claims. That is until one day he finds himself in the hospital being told that he has a brain tumor. Wife Laerke (Tuva Novotny) is trying to do everything to make Max deal with the situation he is in but finds he is closing himself off to everyone.

Going back to work doesn't seem to be an option as Max decides that he wants to take control of his life. In helping a previous client, he learns about the Hotel Aurora, a place where people who have illness go to work out their feelings.

As the days go by Max cannot seem to find a peaceful place within himself, especially when the hotel has a secretiveness about it. He begins to explore, and the management isn't happy about where he goes or what he sees.

It does not change the medical problems Max faces when the line between reality and fantasy start to blur. Max begins to question his life, thoughts and plans especially when missing Laerke and their life together.

Sometimes what we think is real and what is real are both a scary place.

Coster-Waldau as Max has had time to shed his Jamie Lannister armor and get gritty in another way. As this character, he shows every bit of emotion on his face. Since Max seems to be a man of few words, we follow the emotion and it takes us all on a journey through his life, love, empathy and what happens when we make a hasty decision. The ending is trippy but it couldn't have been any other way.

Novotny as Laerke is trying to make her man's life easier but when he does not communicate much it becomes difficult. As the viewer I begin to question her presence in all of it and that is a conversation for later after everyone has seen the film.

Shout out to Robert Aramayo as Ari, a young man who sees Max as a friend. He's not the only one that does as Max puts out an air that is endearing, especially when they all share the same reason for being at the hotel.

Other cast include: Jan Bijvoet as Frank, Sonja Richter as Alice, Johanna Woklek as Linda, Kaya Wilkins as Mia, Slimane Dazi as Francois, Mette Lysdahl as Kirstine, Solbjorg Hojfeldt as Karen and Vibeke Hastrup as the Doctor.

Screen Media is an international distributor of television series and films, licensing content through theatrical, home video, pay-per-view, free, cable and pay television, and subscription and advertising video-on-demand platforms.  In 2017 Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. acquired Screen Media which is in its 23rd year as a leading global independent distribution company. The company is continually looking to add films and television series to its content library. For more information please visit www.screenmedia.com.

EXIT PLAN is in the same vein as films like THE FOUNTAIN in which you, the viewer, must decide what is real and what is a reality used to protect from fear and anxiety. There is something quite beautiful in this story and perhaps it is because there are decisions in the film that must be made and once done - call for rethinking at such a personal cost.

The film itself tells a very slow story and it not encumbered by anything like noise, car blasts, etc., but instead keep it calm and quiet which for me was just as disturbing. It forces the characters to deal with their issues without anything getting in the way. If anything does you can be sure its whatever is in their own minds.

Coster-Waldau gives us the saddest person in character. Even if the character attempts a smile it is only to make someone else less uncomfortable (which does not work to my way of thinking). Throughout the film it is a struggle along with Max to find one moment of happiness in the midst of what can only be described as nothingness. Strange to be sure but oh so worth the watch.

In the end - is death the only way out?

EXIT PLAN are Many Decisions and Realities

Jeri Jacquin

Coming to VOD this week from director Jonas Alexander Arnby and Screen Media is a journey of life and death when one has an EXIT PLAN.

Max Isaken (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau) is an insurance adjuster who tries to help people with their claims. That is until one day he finds himself in the hospital being told that he has a brain tumor. Wife Laerke (Tuva Novotny) is trying to do everything to make Max deal with the situation he is in but finds he is closing himself off to everyone.

Going back to work doesn't seem to be an option as Max decides that he wants to take control of his life. In helping a previous client, he learns about the Hotel Aurora, a place where people who have illness go to work out their feelings.

As the days go by Max cannot seem to find a peaceful place within himself, especially when the hotel has a secretiveness about it. He begins to explore, and the management isn't happy about where he goes or what he sees.

It does not change the medical problems Max faces when the line between reality and fantasy start to blur. Max begins to question his life, thoughts and plans especially when missing Laerke and their life together.

Sometimes what we think is real and what is real are both a scary place.

Coster-Waldau as Max has had time to shed his Jamie Lannister armor and get gritty in another way. As this character, he shows every bit of emotion on his face. Since Max seems to be a man of few words, we follow the emotion and it takes us all on a journey through his life, love, empathy and what happens when we make a hasty decision. The ending is trippy but it couldn't have been any other way.

Novotny as Laerke is trying to make her man's life easier but when he does not communicate much it becomes difficult. As the viewer I begin to question her presence in all of it and that is a conversation for later after everyone has seen the film.

Shout out to Robert Aramayo as Ari, a young man who sees Max as a friend. He's not the only one that does as Max puts out an air that is endearing, especially when they all share the same reason for being at the hotel.

Other cast include: Jan Bijvoet as Frank, Sonja Richter as Alice, Johanna Woklek as Linda, Kaya Wilkins as Mia, Slimane Dazi as Francois, Mette Lysdahl as Kirstine, Solbjorg Hojfeldt as Karen and Vibeke Hastrup as the Doctor.

Screen Media is an international distributor of television series and films, licensing content through theatrical, home video, pay-per-view, free, cable and pay television, and subscription and advertising video-on-demand platforms.  In 2017 Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment, Inc. acquired Screen Media which is in its 23rd year as a leading global independent distribution company. The company is continually looking to add films and television series to its content library. For more information please visit www.screenmedia.com.

EXIT PLAN is in the same vein as films like THE FOUNTAIN in which you, the viewer, must decide what is real and what is a reality used to protect from fear and anxiety. There is something quite beautiful in this story and perhaps it is because there are decisions in the film that must be made and once done - call for rethinking at such a personal cost.

The film itself tells a very slow story and it not encumbered by anything like noise, car blasts, etc., but instead keep it calm and quiet which for me was just as disturbing. It forces the characters to deal with their issues without anything getting in the way. If anything does you can be sure its whatever is in their own minds.

Coster-Waldau gives us the saddest person in character. Even if the character attempts a smile it is only to make someone else less uncomfortable (which does not work to my way of thinking). Throughout the film it is a struggle along with Max to find one moment of happiness in the midst of what can only be described as nothingness. Strange to be sure but oh so worth the watch.

In the end - is death the only way out?