Foodies: The Culinary Jetset

Oct 22, 2015

Foodies is a Swedish documentary about five self-appointed food critics who share a mission to eat at the world’s best restaurants.

Each of the restaurants they visit has a two or three-star rating and offers an elite setting and degustation dishes that are presented like works of art.

Welcome to the world of international haute cuisine and the phenomenon of food bloggers.

Directed by Thomas Jackson, Charlotte Landelius and Henrick Stockare, the film documents the individual experiences of the five wealthy, jet-setting critics, whose blogs are said to be followed by thousands of people. It also reveals chefs’ thoughts on the rising influence of the bloggers.

The “foodies” mostly dine alone, with their self-indulgence and self-importance justified as a hobby like any other that is driven by obsession and a desire for recognition.

The film presents the idea that unlike classical music, which has been built on centuries of tradition and is defined by a system of composition, food is a mostly uncharted frontier which is left open to improvisation and interpretation, allowing bloggers their own licence to become an expert.

Foodies is a fascinating glimpse into the domain of a particular group of food bloggers, but after more than 90 minutes of swallowing their opinions and their indulgence, the viewer is left feeling a little nauseated at the extravagance of it all and wondering if their time and money could be put to better use.

The screening of Foodies at the Adelaide Film Festival was preceded by Australian short film Yia Yia (Grandmother) by Marion Pilowsky – a heartwarming and fun story about finding love and connection over a Greek dessert.