The country and the food are both beautiful and complicated as seen by the calm but deeply interested and appreciative Solomonov. Cliches found in countless cooking shows like "food is love" and "food will bring us together" have actual and concrete meaning as well as deep and lasting history in Israel. Solomonov takes us through a brief history of Israel, Jewish and immigrant cuisines as well as the small but diverse regions of the country. The conflict is addressed explicitly but its tension is lingering in the back ground of every scene. Solmonov ignores politics completely and focuses solely on food showing enthusiasm and respect for every and all the eclectic dishes and chefs he encounters. And by doing so, focusing on the myriad of cuisines and tastes and cultural influences, we get a sense of the real day-to-day life of Israel not devoid of the political tension but without the polarizing fervor the subject can illicit. And perhaps we glimpse a way forward.
If there is a flaw of the film it is with Solomonov and only slight. He's not very good at describing what he's tasting. We know he likes it but he doesn't give us, the viewer, any differentiation he describes almost everything unilaterally as "awesome". Forgivable given his success as our psuedo-Virgil.
Engaging but not necessarily cinematic.
Rent It.
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