The Taste of Pho
Mariko Bobrik's feature debut is a genuine cultural melting pot - a Japanese director educated in Łódź, a Polish-German co-production and Vietnamese actors and all shot in Warsaw.
The Taste of Pho
dir. Mariko Bobrik
Poland, Germany 2019, 84'
From July 3rd in Polish theatres
- World premiere: 67th International Film Festival in San Sebastián
- Polish premiere: 13th AFF Five Flavours
10-year-old Maja hides from her classmates the lunch of traditional meals prepared for her every morning by her father, a Vietnamese chef and master of pho soup, who is trying to find his own path in the reality of Warsaw. When his long-term boss decides to return to his homeland, he has to face the requirements of the new restaurant owner. However, mastering new cooking skills is a minor challenge, compared to raising his daughter as a single parent: the growing-up girl is incredibly perceptive.
Mariko Bobrik tells her Polish-Vietnamese story, full of subtle humour, through frames inspired by classic Japanese cinema. Subdued colours reflect the aura of winter in the city with its grey pavements and interiors filled with warm light. With ordinary objects and small gestures, the director relates her characters’ complex emotions and desires. She gives the viewers an insight into the life of Warsaw Vietnamese community but her story is much more universal. This warm family portrait is a touching essay on closeness and alienation, little joys of life and consequence in pursuit of one’s goals.
Mariko Bobrik
Born in Japan in 1983. In 2009, she graduated from the directing course of the Lodz Film School. Currently, she lives in Warsaw with her family. "The Taste of Pho" is her first feature. The project participated in Cinéfondation: Résidence du Festival de Cannes (2012) as well as in Script Station program of the Talents, Berlinale (2013). The script won the 2nd prize of Script Pro 2015 – a Polish feature film script competition.
Filmography:
2009 Vena Cava (short)
2015 Necesito Saber (short, with Matías Rojas Valencia)
2019 The Taste of Pho
Credits:
director: Mariko Bobrik
screenplay: Mariko Bobrik
cinematography: Andrzej Wojciechowski
editing: Benjamin Mirguetmusic: Aki Takasesound: Michael Kaczmarek
cast: Lena Nguyen, Thang Long Do, Aleksandra Domańska, Bogusława Pawelec, Tran Thi Thanh Minh, Ton Gia Khai
producer: Benny Drechsel, Mariusz Włodarski
production: Rohfilm Productions, Lava Films, Opus Film (coproduction), EC1 Łódź - Miasto Kultury (coproduction)
Polish distributor: Pięć Smaków Kino Azji
language: Polish, Vietnamese
colouration: colour
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