THE PERFECT DINNER
Italy, 2022, 104 minutes, Colour.
Salvatore Esposito, Greta Scarano, Gianluca Colucci, Gianfranco Gallo, Marlon Joubert.
Directed by Davide Minnella.
This is a surprisingly engaging film – on paper, the story of chefs and restaurants as well as Neapolitan Camorra, violent murders and money-laundering, does not seem immediately attractive. But, that is what the film is about, serious in the implications about Camorra violence, light in the sequences in the kitchen, recipes, cooking, experiments, and the satisfaction of the restaurant patrons.
At the centre of the film is Carmine, genially played by Salvatore Esposito, brought up by his grandmother in Naples but under the patronage of Pasquale, the Camorra chief with his henchmen-thugs. Carmine can cook pizzas and remember some of his grandmother’s recipes. But, he is asked to pursue a friend who is in debt to Pasquale but cannot bring himself to do it. He is banished to Rome to look after a restaurant which is a rendezvous for Camorra ill gotten cash to be laundered. The Camorra theme continues with visits from some thugs bringing the money to Rome, especially violent threats from a violent subordinate of Pasquale, friend whom Carmine did not betray coming to seek his help to rescue a woman from Naples, Carmine going, promised money but the rescue attempt failing.
In the meantime, Carmine has encountered a young woman, Consuelo, originally from Argentina, a wandering life, ambitious as a chef, setting up her restaurant but heavily criticised by newspaper critics and having to close down. Carmine encounters her working as a cook in a restaurant, tastes her food, makes a proposal that she come to his restaurant (which is her old restaurant from which she was fired). She is a fiery character, suspicious of Carmine, confesses that the critics said her recipes lacked soul but she makes a nostalgia dish from her past which is immediately successful. So, a lot of time is spent in the kitchen, focusing on food, blending, preparations, cooking, presentation, all that fans of food films enjoy.
On the personal level, there is bonding between the two – but, threatened, because Carmine has been using the laundered money to finance the rebuilding and decoration of the restaurant and does not want to deal with Pasquale’s demands. Interesting complication when the friend he let go asks him to travel to Naples and Carmine has the possibility of €60,000 to cover the debt. Nicely, despite the failure of the enterprise, Carmine does receive the money, able to pay Pasquale. However, Pasquale realises what has happened, says he is coming for a meal, Carmine expecting the worst, closes the restaurant, Consuelo leaving in anger but later returning when she hears that Emile is being prepared, Pasquale given the full treatment and his enjoying the dishes despite his angry thug wanting to shoot Carmine.
The ending is not quite as we would imagine, violence yes, police, yes, but witness protection from Carmine and his having to leave Rome and Consuelo.
A nicely judged epilogue brings it all happily together. Much more enjoyable than might have been anticipated.
1. The title? Many dinners, menus, recipes, cooking, tasting, clientele?
2. Neapolitan settings, homes, the Camorra, pizza shop, the streets…? The room settings, the city, the restaurant, interiors, the kitchen, the restaurant for ships? The musical score?
3. Carmine and his story, family background, grandmother, Pasquale caring for him, loyalty? Cooking the pizzas? One of Pasquale’s gangster soldiers, the order, to follow Giuliano, Carmine eating, seeing Giuliano, the pursuit, Giuliano and his plea, letting him go? Pasquale lenient? Sending him to Rome, the restaurant, money-laundering? Carmine is a sympathetic character?
4. The background of the Camorra, gangs, power, laundering money, drug dealing, violence and murders?
5. Carmine in Rome, Rosario as his assistant, the restaurant, the clientele, the mobsters coming from Naples to deliver the money, supervise, Vincenzo and his ruthlessness? Raffaele and his having the meals?
6. Constable a low, her story, Argentina, parents, on the road, travelling, cooking, recipes? Her attempt at a restaurant, the critics, failure? Her working in the kitchen? Carmine, the visit, the taste, the meetings with Consuelo, the bonding, inviting her to his restaurant, her cooking, the nostalgia recipe? Her strong personality, commands, the renovation of the restaurant, our mind taking the money from the safe? The risks?
7. The renovations, the opening of the restaurant, Consuelo and her work, the staff, the achievements, the testing of recipes and taste? Memories of the critic? His turning up, Consuelo anxious, the favourable response?
8. Giuliano arriving, wanting Carmine’s help, his cousin being murdered by Pasquale, the issue of money, Carmine to go to Naples to rescue Margarita, €60,000, his visit, the trap, his escape?
9. Pasquale, Carmine ringing Giuliano’s phone, Pasquale phoning Carmine, the invitation to the meal?
10. Giuliano, his escape, sending the box with the money? Carmine sending it to the bank?
11. The visit of the prosecutor to the restaurant, and knowledge of what had happened?
12. Carmine closing the restaurant, Consuelo upset, the love between the two, the relationship? Her hearing that the restaurant was opening, coming to the restaurant?
13. Pasquale, his entourage, the preparation of the meal, Pasquale enjoying it, the thugs on guard, Consuelo coming in, Vincenzo impatient, wanting to shoot Carmine? Pasquale enjoying the meal, the specials, the grandmother’s desert recipe? Vincenzo upset, shooting Pasquale? The arrival of the police? Consuelo and her attack, Carmine’s explanation, the flashback to the prosecutor, the setting up of the recording equipment, Vincenzo’s confession?
14. The surprise ending, the witness protection, Carmine and his leaving Consuelo? Leaving her the restaurant?
15. The epilogue, the story of the Danish chef and his forest restaurant, Carmine going there, employed? Consuelo arriving, leaving the restaurant to Rosario? A happy ending?
16. The reality of the Camorra? Its violence? Hold over people? The possibility of better choices and making one’s life?
