Fall 2021—Sunday, November 14, 7 p.m.
The Taste of Pho
Smak Pho
2020, 84 minutes
Directed and written by: Marico Bobrik
Cast: Thang Long Do, Lena Nguyen, Aleksandra Domańska, Gia Khai Ton, Thi Thanh Minh Tran, Wojciech Zieliński, Bogusława Pawelec
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.
“Marico Bobrik tells her Polish-Vietnamese story, full of subtle humor, through frames inspired by classic Japanese cinema. 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.” Rotten Tomatoes