UNCORKED

US, 2020, 104 minutes, Colour.
Mamadou Athie, Courtney B.Vance, Sashun Compere, Lathun Pollard.
Directed by Prentice Penny.

While this family drama is set in the African- American community in Memphis, Tennessee, the basic plot is applicable to many families in many cultures.

The focus is on a young man, Elijah (Mamadou Athie), in his 20s, destined to work in his father’s restaurant, his father having inherited the business from his father. It is the family business.

However, Elijah’s vision goes beyond working in the family business, he has a special skill with wines, expertise in tasting, identifying… He takes the opportunity to develop his skills, attend courses, and a new world opening up for him. And, as we might expect, his stern father (Courtney B.Vance) is not in favour. Deep down, he does understand, but in practice he does not. On the other hand, he is supported by his loving mother (who has problems of her own, diagnosed with terminal cancer).

Elijah tries to combine living in both worlds. He works hard in the restaurants. This is made all the harder by the stern attitude of his father. He enrols in studies, makes a number of friends, wants to qualify as a professional. In fact, this includes the student group going to Paris for further education, the family chipping in for money to pay his fare.

But, fate and fatality intervene, especially with the illness of his mother. Elijah experiences some depression, the feeling that he is not destined to fulfil his ambitions, resigned to working for his father.

There is a happy ending but not in the way that we might have been expecting or hoped for. Elijah does have some communication with his father, even gaining some support. But, as the film ends, he has not reached his goal – but, he hopes, and we hope, that he is well on the way.

1. The title? The focus on the bottles, wine?

2. Memphis, the African- American community, the restaurants, homes, business connections? The wine bar? The Institute for Sommeliers, study and lectures? The trip to Paris, the atmosphere of Paris, the French countryside, the Institute and learning? Musical score?

3. Elijah’s story? Age, upbringing, working in the restaurant, beside his father, love for his mother? In the bottle shop? The encounter with Tanya? Meeting again, dates, the sexual relationship? His relationship with his father, not wanting to work in the restaurant, his knowledge of wines, his skill? His wanting to study?

4. The father, his background, not going to college, wanting to teach, working with his father, admiration for his father and his setting up the restaurant? Successful for many years? The practical running of the restaurant, the kitchen, going to abattoirs, the prospect of a further restaurant with bar? His devotion to the memory of his father? Expectations of Elijah?

5. The mother, genial, the cancer, out with her husband dancing, the cancer returning, hospital? Her concern for her son, raising the money for him to go to Paris? Her joy at the photos, the phone calls, a decline, her death? The funeral and its atmosphere?

6. Elijah, his working with his father, his kitchen skills, limitations? His going to study? Preparation for the exam? Going to the Institute, the fellow students, one bespectacled and awkward, the other from the wealthy background, the young woman? Their working together? The team? The decision to go to Paris? Working together, the classes, the role plays? The wealthy son having to return home?

7. The details of the study to become a Sommelier? Wine tasting? Discernment of flavours, on grapes, locations, age…? The role play and Elijah making mistakes with the customers?

8. The effect of his mother’s death? The up-and-down relationship with Tanya? Yet the support of the family, the extended family, the cousin with his music, his sister and her girlfriends?

9. The impact of his mother’s death? The return from France? Working in the restaurant, great attention to detail? His future?

10. The discussions with his father? His father accepting that wine was his son’s great interest? His beginning to help, the post-its around the restaurant, his father helping him to learn and to revise? The buildup to the exam? His father giving him his grandfather’s suit? Accompanying him to the exam?

11. Elijah and the discussion, his qualities, where he missed out? Accepting his failing? The urgings of his girlfriend? The prospect of studying for another year? Going to the restaurant, his bespectacled friend having his Masters?

12. Not a neat and happy ending – but hopeful prospects for Elijah, further studies, achieving his goal?