JULIA

US, 2021, 8X 45, Colour.

Sarah Lancashire, David Hyde Pierce, Bebe Neuwirth, Fran Kranz, Fiona Glasscott, Brittany Bradford, Robert Joy, Michael Malvesti, Adriane Lennox, Judith Light, Jefferson Mays, Lindsay Broad, Isabella Rossellini, Tosin Morohunfola.

Directed by Jenne LaMarque, Melanie Mayron, Charles McDougall, Erica Dunton, Scott Ellis, Charles McDougall.

Julia Child is immortal in the history of American cooking. She was the subject of an interesting documentary, Julia, 2021, going back over her history, but with a lot of talking heads and interviews, the retrospect about her life and career and influence. There was a 2009 Nora Ephron film, Julie and Julia, with Meryl Streep as Julia Child and Amy Adams as Julie Powell, an admirer of Julia Child who set out to reproduce all of Julia Child’s recipes. So, she is part of cinema consciousness as well.

This miniseries presupposes audience knowledge of Julia Child, her background (and her crusty father, played by James Cromwell, appearing in a visit to his daughter, antipathetic to her husband and his painting career). It also presupposes some knowledge of Paul Child and his diplomatic work, his postings, World War II, he and his wife’s presence in France. And it presupposes audience awareness that this is where Julia developed her knowledge and practice of French cooking.

The focus of this miniseries is one year, the early 1960s, echoes of the Kennedy era, quotes from Kennedy, early years of television, the development of Public Television, especially in Boston. While Julia and Paul Child had settled in Boston, Julia was somewhat restless, having published a book on Mastering French Cooking, cowritten by her French friend, Siska (played by Isabella Rossellini), she found herself being interviewed by a supercilious professor on a book program, she deciding to cook an omelette on set. She was intrigued by this, letters coming into the station in favour of her, her deciding then to propose a program to the station, not explaining this to her husband, relying on her close friend, Avis (Bebe Newiwrth), financing the pilot herself.

There is a lot of time spent on the set, establishing it, building it, Paul interfering with the design, Julia and her demands, the reaction of the producers, especially Russ (Fran Kranz) hostile, thinking cooking below the dignity of public television. However, there is a support from African-American producer, Alice (Brittany Bradford). Each episode of the television series has a title from a particular menu to be cooked.

Audiences who enjoy cooking programs will be delighted by the procedures, learning how a half hour program is planned, rehearsed, performed. There is quite some human drama, supercilious attitudes on the male producers, the support of the station head, played by Robert Joy, Julia’s connection with Judith, her editor with Alfred Knopf publishing, the background story of Judith Jones, her skills in editing, especially with John Updike (and a sequence where he is persuaded to be interviewed on public television), and a portrait of the very demanding Blanche Knopf played effectively by Judith Light. With Paul Child and Blanche Knopf, and Siska in France, there is a lot of spurning of television and reliance on books.

There are some plot stories with Alice, her critical mother, her meeting a young man. Stories of Russ, his wife’s pregnancy, their both learning to cook. And the role of Judith and her work as her book editor.

Sarah Lancashire is excellent as Judith Child, voice, presence, intonations, the final bon appetit. David Hyde Pierce has an excellent role as her husband. There are many episodes in Boston, a visit to San Francisco an indication, as in real life, that Julia Child supported more liberal stances, her visit to a gay club and singing with the Drag Queen. But there is also a visit to a celebration in New York, a gala in her honour, but the chance meeting with feminist Betty Friedan who criticises her program as being anti-feminist. Which puts a doubt into Julia’s mind as to whether she should continue with her program, eventually being persuaded, after confessing her deceptions to Paul about getting the program going, to sign a contract for a new season.

1. The history of Julia Child, her role in French cooking, bring it to the United States, her books, the television program, subsequent influences? Audience knowledge of Julia Child, seeing her programs, television interviews, the documentary of 2021, Julia, Meryl Streep impersonating her in Julie and Julia?
2. Sarah Lancashire in the role, British background, Julia’s accent, voice pitch, intonations, screen presence, larger-than-life presence?
3. The effect of the television series, the eight different chapters with different cooking invitations? Illustrated throughout? Cumulative effect of this story, the personal story of Julia and Paul, the television program, public television in Boston in the 1960s, the influence on people? The critique by Betty Friedan and feminists?
4. A portrait of Julia Child, references to the past, the visit from her father, wealth, a cranky old man, critical of Paul, critical of his daughter, yet some support? Her marriage to Paul, his being a diplomat, the postings? The time in France, her learning French cooking? The talent as a cook? The collaboration with Siska, the writing of the book, publication, popularity, in the United States? The title of “”mastering””? The opening scene in Norway, the friends, the posting to France – and the transition then to Boston in the early 1960s, the Kennedy era and the references?
5. Julie and Paul, their relationship, Paul as a diplomat, finishing his career, covering about being fired? Retirement, his painting, photography, seeing him at work, painting the pears, the later exhibition and some of the sales? Old-fashioned, antipathy towards television as temporary and frivolous, his support of Julia, love for her, yet her going around him to propose the television program, Avis and her helping to persuade Paul, arranging the art exhibition? Talking him around, his support, going to the studio, supervising the building of the set, interfering? Change of heart? Julia buying the television set, watching? His becoming more involved? Julia’s father and his visit, antipathy towards Paul?
6. Julia, the interview, her book, the supercilious interviewer, her taking over, getting the hotplate, making the omelette, his reaction, eating it? The later encounters with him, his demands, the network staff, his wanting better interviewees, Alice, interactions with her, his demands, Julia and her friendship with Judith, getting John Updike on the show, Julia meeting him privately, then formally, and the tone of the interview with the interviewer, the questions about jogging, the improvement? The interviewer and his farewelling of Julia – and his dismay at her return?
7. The issue of the show, her idea, proposing it, Russ and the other executives, not their image of public television, their reaction to her, her offering to pay, the support of Alice? The details of putting on the show, setting up the set, Julia ignorant of television sets, but working, the camera, the workers, her cheery response? The 27 letters from fans, the male executive and the reaction? Hunter, leading the network, his wife? His endorsing the show? Alice and her support?
8. The development of the show over the years, the building of the sets, Julia’s demands, the range of cooking demonstrations, Avis and Dorothy helping her, unseen, learning camera techniques for whisking, Julia and her cooking lessons at home, raising funds for the program? Over the months, the improvement, Hunter and his enthusiasm? Russ and his frustrations? His wife, her cooking, pregnancy? His ambitions to do documentaries? Trapped with The French Cook, Alice and her continued support, bringing Julia to the station, explaining situations? Alice answering the phone, the sales to San Francisco? Russ and his reaction, Hunter and his reaction, carrying on, but pleased with the results?
9. Judith and Paul attempts at bread?
10. The visit to San Francisco, the acclaim for Julia, the negotiations with the local station, Julia and her speech, her demonstration, positive response? Her meeting with Beard, the discussions about cooking? The gay man, the dinner, his flirtatious manner, taking her to the gay club, the Drag Queen and his name, her singing with him? Coming home, not able to contact Paul, the big queues for her book signing, his petulance? Going out with an old friend?
11. The changing prospects, Russ and his greater involvement, Hunter and his enthusiasm, change of offers to Russ?
12. Alice, the scenes with her mother, black career woman, her mother’s taunts, Alice cooking, going to New York, the gala, the encounter with Isaac, the meal, talk, bonding, his legal background? Phone calls, outing, her mother happy, prospects? Alice and her being promoted by Hunter?
13. The gala, Julia enjoying it, the encounter with Betty Friedan, the seeming friendship, Betty Friedan’s feminist critique? The effect on Julia, long-lasting?
14. The decision that that be the end of the show, talking with Avis? Avis and her continued support, sardonic, the day chaperoning Paul with his flu?
15. Julia, things going wrong with the last session? Then her change of heart, the discussions with Paul, the confession of her deceit, his reactions, eventually coming round?
16. Hunter, apprehensions, Julia with the new contract, Alice and her promotion?
17. The influence of Julia child on American cooking habits?