O
Our loveof foodoftengoeshand inhandwithour
loveof film, evoking feelingsof creativity, expression,
andconnection. It’saperfectmarriage, ablendof family
dynamicsand celebration, passionand love, or self-
discoveryand truth.Whetherasabackdrop, recurring
symbol, orametaphor, appetitesarearoused
and talesare told.
Over theyears, the theme of foodhas
becomeaspopular incinemaas theWestern,
actionadventure, orromanticcomedy.So it is
trulyfitting that thenewestentry to the
genre,
Julie&Julia
, celebrates thegrande
dameof cuisine, JuliaChild, portrayedby the
grandedameof cinema,MerylStreep,who
graces thecoverof thismagazine.
Therecipe issimple.Startwithablog.Add
adashofauthorhumilityanddesperation,
seasonwith the triumphofablog-turned-
novel, and theresultingdish is thefilm
Julie
&Julia
byColumbiaPictures.Basedupon
twobestsellingmemoirs, thestory inter-
weaves thesagaof twowomen (separatedby
decades)whoareat looseends in their lives
andeventuallydiscoverapurpose througha
sharedpassion forcooking.
Writer/directorNoraEphronadaptedJulia
ChildandAlexPrud’homme’s
MyLife in
France
(Knopf, 2006)andJuliePowell’s
Julie
andJulia:MyYearofCookingDangerously
(BackBayBooks, 2006) thatoriginatedas the
popularblog, called the
Julie/JuliaProject
.
Ephron isamajor“foodie”herself, asher
own loveof cookingwasamajorplotdevice
in thebookandhitmovie
Heartburn
in the
’80s.Streepsays thisaboutEphron: “I just
don’tknowhowNoradoeswhatshedoes ...
she’sareallygoodcook.Butherdeftnessasa
writer, andhowsecretlyshesneaks inwhat
it isshe’s talkingabout ... I just think it’ssort
of remarkable. It’sagreatgift ... it’sagift for
subtlety in thehumor.Thefilm isvery, very
funny, but itdoesn’tsetout tohaveany jokes
... youreally laughwith thesepeople, butyou
feel for themaswell, and it’s justagreat
thing thatshewasable todo.”
Themovie followsJuliePowell (playedby
AmyAdams),abrightyet frustratedyoungManhattan
womanstuck inacubiclewithadead-endsecretarialca-
reer.Shecooksup the ideaof tacklingeveryrecipe—all
524 items in365days—ofChild’sgroundbreaking
Master-
ing theArtofFrenchCooking
(Knopf, 2001).Legionsof loyal
blogreaders followedPowell’s journeyashergastronomic
accomplishmentsgavebirth toacompletelynewcareer.
Inanotherpoint in time, thefilmcovers theperiod
Childandher husbandPaul spent inParis during the
early1950s.Exposed inRouen tooysters,finewine, and
sole
meunière
, shefindsher truecallingat theageof 37
andattends the famedLeCordonBleucookingschool.
Andof course, therest ishistory.
➤
SCENES FROM JULIE& JULIA
