SEASONED WITH LOVE

Canada, 2021, 90 minutes, Colour.

Julia Benson, Peter Benson, Tori Barban, Kolton Stewart, Maria Inger, Emma Campbell.

Directed by Claude Desrosiers.

Yes, food, cooking, romance. And for those in the 30s and 40s. And the G classification is an indication. (And many moist eyes moments.)

This is a Canadian production but, as with so many Canadian films and telemovies, it is set in Pittsburgh and in country Pennsylvania with an excursion to New York City. The cast is Canadian, led by Julia and Peter Benson who are married in real life.

This is a film very much for audiences who enjoy television cooking programs. Here we see chefs and their helpers at work, working in the kitchen, with the vegetables, with the spices, all kinds of creations for a local Flora Fest. And, when the first batch of foods is destroyed by raccoons, there are donations from people in the town and surroundings and more cooking.

Julia Benson plays Winona, managing a bistro in Pittsburgh who gets an invitation to come to New York to audition for cooking television program. On the way, her veteran car (a gift from the partner with whom she began the bistro) breaks down and she is stranded in New Holland, Pennsylvania. And, of course, in the preparations for the Flora Fest, the main chef is struck down by illness. So, no new major plot surprises.

Winona has had some trouble on arriving in the town, an elderly tractor driver who does not seem to speak giving her a lift, then his being ticked off by the owner of the local Inn. It will take a long time to fix the car and Winona has to stay at the Inn managed by – of course, the man who ticked off the tractor driver. And he has a daughter who wants to get into MIT.

On the whole, the film is very genial, everybody, basically, being nice to everyone else and, if there is a bit of tension, there are explanations, apologies and reconciliations.

There is a nice presentation of spirit in a rural community getting together. But, there is edge, when the television producers come to the town and interview Winona, and the townspeople taken aback at what they see on the News, her interview edited to make her seem better than she was. And, then, in New York, at the audition, she realises where she really wants to be!

1. The title? Food, cooking, romance? The target middle-aged audience? And the teenage characters and their issues?
2. Pittsburgh, the bistro, the kitchen, Winona and Pearl and their work, the customer and his tasting the unexpected dish? The phone call, the invitation for Winona to come for an audition to New York, her decision? And, in honour of her friend, Annie, to drive the car?
3. The Pennsylvania countryside, the town of New Holland, the crops, the tractor driver, the old man giving Winona the lift, the encounter with Adam, acerbic, meeting Dora, the car repairs, stranded in the town, going to the Inn?
4. The Flora Fest, Winona learning the history, Adam’s ancestor, the spirit, touch, tulips, flowers, the importance of food? The team for the food, Millie and her illness, her recipes? The crisis, the approach to Winona? Winona cooking the fish, the taste? Her agreeing?
5. Adam, widower, bringing up Katrina? Her studies, secret, application to MIT, being accepted? Talking with Winona, telling her father, his joy and acceptance?
6. Katrina helping with the cooking, Harry and his talents, Dora his mother, the collaboration in the preparation for the meal, recipes, the food, the work in the kitchen, the cooking, the chips?
7. Katrina, wanting Winona to stay? The store door open, the raccoons? Having to start again?
8. The meeting, discussions, plans, the food gifts from the people, going to see the old man, his talking, the venison, the double yolk eggs? The plans, the menu, the night before, Winona and the desert, with Adam?
9. The day of the Fest, the preparations of the cooking, the tables, the crowds, gathering, eating, satisfaction?
10. The television company, sending the crew, filming, the interview with Winona, everybody gathering for the news, the editing and the disgusted reaction? Even Adam? Talking with Katrina, Katrina having listened in, explaining the truth?
11. To New York, the audition, the challenge to Winona, valuing relationship rather than impersonal television success? Adam going to New York, the apology, the plans for the future, working in new Holland? Marriage?