FFF23 Umami

Synopsis

Believe it or not - for Gabriel (Gérard Depardieu, The Villa, AF FFF22), his life of disappointment and turmoil all began with an exceptional bowl of noodles. The latest from director Slony Sow, UMAMI or ‘the essence of deliciousness’ is a cinematic celebration of life, great food and a reminder that it’s never too late to change the course of your future for the better.

Eternally pessimistic, Gabriel is hardly surprised when his big career moment is met with contempt. Spiralling downwards suddenly and dramatically, he finds himself forced to reflect on the course of his life. A failed marriage and two apathetic sons, Gabriel can’t help but wonder - where did he go oh-so wrong?
Filled with self-doubt and in a last attempt to bring back his ‘lust for life,’ he calls on a friend who urges him to give hypnosis a try. Under a trance, Gabriel suddenly has an epiphany. All of his dread could be traced back to his first big failure as a young chef – losing out in a competition to a top Japanese competitor and his outrageously delicious noodles. In an effort to find happiness, Gabriel will have to dig deep, brush up on his skills and move past a confidence-crushing failure to find his ‘Umami’ again. A tribute to French and Japanese Gastronomy, UMAMI offers audiences a cinematic feast, with indulgent cuisine and witty dialogue from across the globe.