THE TASTING/  LA DEGUSTATION

France, 2022, 92 minutes, Colour.

Isabelle Carret, Bernard Campan, Mounir Amamra.

Directed by Ivan Calberac.

There is a lot of wine throughout this film. And, there is a key tasting sequence, the explanations for those who are not familiar with such tasting is, and something of a test in expertise for those who are familiar. So, this is a film for fans of wine themes. It has been a long tradition of films about Vineyards, vintages, processes, Sommeliers, International rivalries… This is a 90 minute contribution to those traditions.

However, especially as the film progresses, there are very strong human interest themes, especially to do with relationships, family and children. So, some issues which may interest audiences for whom some of the wine themes may seem a touch esoteric.

The two central characters of the film are in their 40s. We are introduced to Jacques (a fine performance by Bernard Campan), lifting cases of wine in his cellar, collapsing with a heart attack, his good friend the doctor just around the corner saving him, but reading the riot act about no drinking and giving him a card for an AA group. Joke is not interested at all, defending himself – but eventually going to the meeting, participating, and giving up the drinking. The other central character is Hortense (sometimes affecting Isabelle Carre), a midwife (who so loves fondling the new born that they have to tell her to give the child back to its mother!). She comes into Jacques’s shop wanting a bottle of wine to share with a group of homeless men that she supports.

Long story Short, so to speak, Hortense returns to the shop, wants to participate in the tasting, the local bookseller turning up, hopeless at wine tasting but flirting with Hortense, on the other member of the group, Steve, a young man with drug issues, Jacques having been persuaded to take him on as an intern (despite his laziness and the smooth word for every situation). While Hortense enjoys the tasting, easily tipsy, Steve actually has a talent for recognising the qualities of the wines.

But, if that were the whole film, it would have its limited specialist audience.

Jacques has a back story, tragic in its way, revealed towards the end of the film, explaining some of his behaviour, especially towards Hortense. And, Hortense, seen devoutly at Mass (and tasting the communion wine at the recommendation of the parish priest), also has a past, has meals with her mother who continually criticises her, then they play Scrabble. Actually, there is a fine scene after the mother dies, some letters in her hand which her daughter then has to place together to find the word – and it is quite moving.

Which means then that, while there is a tour of the Vineyard and the processing of the group, shark leading Hortense’s group of homeless men, the wind theme lessons (though still some dramatic moments to come) and the focus is very much on the issues between Jacques and Hortense.

The film has a Catholic context, Hortense devout, and raises questions of moral issues in connection with church teaching.

1. The title, the wine focus, the presence of wine throughout the film, the episodes of tastings?
2. The locations, the town, the aerial overview, the central square, the church, facade, tower,, interiors and Mass, the streets, homes, the wine shop, the bookseller? The local countryside, the Vineyards? The visit to the cellar, the details of wine processing? The visit to Spain, the clinic, the son and the water? The musical score?
3. Jacques and his story, in his shop, carrying the boxes, the collapse, the wine is spilled, the attack, the immediate presence of the doctor, in hospital, the doctor and is warning about drinking, the car for AA, the Jacques and his stubbornness? Later filling in of his background, the birth of the child, the long drive, the accident, the death of his child, the visit to the cemetery, the gravestone and the presence of an Angel, his wife leaving him? More than 15 years by himself?
4. Hortense, at Mass, the priest and the taste of the altar wine, her coming to the shop, the discussions with Jacques, the variety of wines, his recommendations, her buying the wine for the group of homeless men, the meal, her serving the wine, their response? Her work as a midwife, holding the babies with tenderness? The visits to her mother, at Mass, the meals at home, her mother’s criticisms, playing Scrabble? The mention of four years in the later revelation of her marriage being abandoned? The revelation of her wanting a child, on the record in Spain, eggs, sperm donor? Loneliness, friends at work?
5. Her insisting on the tasting, the encounter with Steve, the social worker, persuading Jacques to take him, drugs, always with an excuse, slow in work, tidying the cellar, complaining of claustrophobia, time off for a smoke, riding the bike, his connection with the thugs, the box of wine for the doctor, giving it to the thugs, the later threat him, the damage in the shop? But his saving the special wine by changing the label?
6. At the tasting, Jacques and his expertise, the bookseller, Hortense, Steve? The explanation of the look, the colour, the smell, identifying, the taste, the spitting, the swallowing? Steve and his talent? The bookseller and his continued flirting, not being accurate? Hortense and her response, printing, the collapse, leaving the phone?
7. The building up of the relationship, the flirting of the bookseller, the overt comments by Steve? Hortense and her return for the phone, continued returns, the music, the dancing, the kiss? Jacques and his supplying the tasting for her homeless men? The tour of the Vineyard, his driving her home? The sexual encounter, the restaurants, at her place, his discovery of the cot and the revelation of the truth? The effect on him? His comments about children, the audience later learning about his child?
8. Hortense, upset, Jacques leaving the restaurant, at Mass with her mother, her Frank talking with her mother, her mother dying, the Scrabble letters and later deciphering “pardon”?
9. Jacques and his visits to AA, his denials, the doctor in charge, the support, his explanations, the group? His going to AA instead of the theatre?
10. The funeral, his attending, the flower, Hortense walking, seeing him at the headstone, the later visit, asking the bookseller for an explanation, putting the rows on the grave? Jacques and his being upset, not answering her calls? Going to Spain?
11. His collapse, drinking again, the doctor, Steve finding him and calling for help? Recovery?
12. The episode with Steve, Jacques prepared to pay for his training as a Mentally, the destruction, playing the game at the club Steve, forgiveness?
13. Hortense, in Spain, the phone call, the music, shark downstairs? Reconciliation? But the question open about her pregnancy and the future?