Based on a very popular Manga series with the same title that began in 2002, the 2007 film tells the action-packed story of two young chefs competing in a cooking contest.
The reward is a cooking knife with a very prestigious and significant history attached to it.
Brimming with thrilling set pieces, broad humor, mouth-watering food and a skillful interweaving of heartfelt back-stories, the 113-minute movie was screened to a cheering audience at the Japanese Consulate.
Korean Consul General Han Dal-jun in his welcome address said the annual Asian film festival had enabled local and expatriate communities to learn about each other’s culture and traditions. “After all, movies are the most powerful mode of entertainment,” he added.
The feature film was preceded by “Korea, Sparkling,” a short documentary produced by the Korea Tourism Organization about the popular and not so well known destinations in South Korea.
“It’s always fascinating to watch movies about food,” said an Asian consul general during the break. This was echoed by a number of other invitees present. They included members of the local and Korean expatriate communities, as well as diplmats from some Asian countries.
Introducing the feature film, the Korean consul general said it told the story of two chefs, one of whom was better looking than the other, who are competing in a cookery tournament to win the title of the “Le Grand Chef.”
Earnest-looking Kim Kang-woo is the chef who teams up with the female lead, Lee Ha-na, who plays a reporter. Kim plays the good guy who goes through round after round concocting delectable dishes from ingredients like fish and beef. The competition also requires the contestants to carve beef and make charcoal. Kim makes his way through obstacles with the help of his hometown friends and the reporter.
