MIFF 2011: El Bulli & You Are Here

11am session on a Sunday morning, EL BULLI. It was always gonna be challenging. Upon running to make the session I realised I could not see this film on an empty stomach. So I ended up eating something that was about as dramatic a contrast as possible from the food shown in the film, a Frankfurt wrapped in a donut. It was disgusting. I love MIFF.

 

EL BULLI turned out to be a totally fascinating documentary following Ferran Adria and his team as they research, develop and finally serve their epic desgustation that has frequently been referred to as the greatest meal in the world. The film itself takes a wholly verite approach to the subject, with almost no context given, we begin with a few chefs in the research kitchen experimenting with different ingredients before moving on to the actual service period when the restaurant runs.

 

In the past I know I have spoken about how a truly great documentary should appeal to all audiences regardless of their individual interest in the subject matter. I still generally stand by that statement but in some cases - I find particularly with cinema verite -  one's 'mileage may vary' depending on subjective interest. EL BULLI (while still appealing to broad audiences) is a case in point. Some may feel the film is overlong and meandering but I found every minute significantly intriguing. I'm a foodie and my partner works in the industry so we go out as much as we can spending stupid amounts of money on elaborate meals. A long meal of cleverly conceived food and wine matches is possibly one of the most intrinsically satisfying human experiences one can have. Watching the process Ferran and his team go through to create and serve their 35 course, 4 hour art experience is as insightful to me as watching a film that deconstructs the creative process of any great artist you could care to name.

 

If the film has any significant flaw it would be that its approach results in a lot of interesting information about the restaurant being withheld. It is entirely interested in the process of creativity and how this brilliant meal is constructed. For those unfamiliar with more general facts around EL BULLI I would greatly recommend they spend some time googling after seeing the film. Ferran is a truly amazing character and the fact that even at the price tag of 250 euros per person and an entirely booked out restaurant for every service he still has lost money on this enterprise every year he has been open. Mildly recommended to those with no interest but mark it as a must see for any foodie out there.

 

My next film of the day turned out to be quite the befuddling experience. YOU ARE HERE is Canadian video artist, Daniel Cockburn's first foray into feature film territory although really it is more an experimental or avant-garde film than a conventional narrative work. YOU ARE HERE is frustratingly difficult to talk about as it really isn't about anything. Well, that isn't exactly true... It's about the act of observation. In many ways the film interrogates itself in a maddeningly reflexive way. It constantly asks you to think about how you are watching it. It removes any identifiable characters again to separate emotional connection and attempt a playful intellectual game with the viewer.

 

I'll admit that I'm usually more than up for a post-modern intellectual wank. Hell, I loved it so much that a few years ago a friend made me up a custom badge that proudly said 'Post-modern Wank' on it. Sadly my mind was slightly groggy at the time I was watching YOU ARE HERE so I couldn't engage with it completely on the level that it demanded. The problem then arose that the film had almost no other level to it. It was so overtly intellectual and reflexive and about 'itself' that if you couldn't or wouldn't go with it then you were left with little to chew on for its brief 75 minute running time.

 

Bemused was the ultimate word that came to mind after seeing YOU ARE HERE. I didn't hate it. I didn't find it indulgent or pretentious. There were several incredibly clever moments within. But ultimately this profoundly deconstructive head game pulled itself apart so much that by the time it was over I was neither happy nor sad. I simply, was...