The Taste of Pho
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Film description
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.
