Lessons learned from the pursuit of a Michelin star / Lecciones aprendidas sobre la búsqueda de la Estrella Michelin

Movies or series about gastronomy are among my favorites because we get to see the behind-the-scenes of everything that happens in a restaurant, with delicious images, detailed techniques from wherever the recipes come from, the quest for perfection of those demanding workers, the dynamics with their diners, the everyday problems, and the stories of the characters. So it's a subject that can be leveraged and can give us more than just a story; we often learn things through them.

I didn't know this movie, I got to it because I was looking for a series where the actor Nikolaj Coster-Waldau participates, whom we will definitely always remember for his role as Jaime Lannister in Game of Thrones, and reviewing his filmography it caught my attention to see him as a Chef in this movie, so I had to make some time to see it first, it is a 2021 movie and is from his country of origin Denmark.

This film centers on the brilliant chef Carsten (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), who is obsessed with achieving the coveted Michelin star, and his wife and business partner Maggie, who struggles to keep their family afloat while pursuing this all-consuming dream. It's truly the story of this couple, or of everything they sacrificed as a family for their obsession to obtain this distinction.

The Michelin Star is a symbol of Carsten's obsession; it's not just a culinary recognition; it's the ultimate validation, the pinnacle of his career, or the complete opposite if he fails to achieve it. What should clearly be a professional goal becomes his self-perception as a successful or unsuccessful person. It gives us the opportunity to explore aspects such as emotional connection, honesty, the role of parents, trust as a couple, and even how they will be able to test their integrity and sense of morality to achieve their goals. At the end of the film, we can reflect on what success is if it leaves you without the people you love or if it leaves you without your own peace. It's a very thoughtful film.

Lessons learned from the pursuit of a Michelin star

Every film or series about gastronomy teaches me lessons about this demanding world, and although the main narrative of this film is the personal, couple, and family drama, it taught me some aspects about the process of applying for and achieving (or not) the coveted Michelin Star. I'm going to describe them in a list or in detail. This helps me avoid rambling too much, and I don't think I'll bore you.

1- The Pressure and Obsession with Perfection:

The pursuit of a Michelin star is an obsession that consumes every aspect of the chef's life, their family, and their team, day after day. There's immense pressure to ensure every dish is impeccable, every service is perfect, with no room for error, and every detail, from the temperature of the food to the presentation, is crucial. A Michelin Star isn't just a goal; it's a very heavy burden.

2. Personal Sacrifice:

The film shows us that achieving this level of excellence, and being recognized by guides like Michelin, requires a very high cost in the personal lives of chefs and their families, with endless hours, sleepless nights, constant tension, and the disruption of family and personal life. Food unites us, but this perfectionist goal can also separate us from reality and what is truly important: family.

3- The Anonymous Inspectors:

I've seen this in several movies and series. The identity of the Michelin Inspectors is one of the most intriguing and stressful aspects for chefs. Not knowing who they are is a constant pressure, and Chef Carsten is forced to maintain an unwavering level of excellence in every service. Any customer could be the one deciding their future; this uncertainty increases the pressure and anxiety level.

4- The Desire for Innovation:

I believe chefs are artists and scientists at the same time, testing ingredients, techniques, and processes, constructing and deconstructing recipes, in order to have something original and unique on their menu, something distinctive and excellent. In this film, Chef Carsten is constantly experimenting and pushing the boundaries to create dishes that are not only delicious, but memorable and unique. This includes the importance of presenting dishes down to the smallest details.

5- The Culinary Criticism:

Another very important aspect to achieve the coveted Michelin Star is that the restaurant vying for it must have reviews from culinary critics and mentions in guides. The restaurant's overall reputation and visibility in the culinary world are essential to attract the attention of inspectors.

6- The Michelin Star Announcement:

The film shows that information spreads quickly through the media. We see the characters glued to the television or the internet (it wasn't clear to me), waiting for confirmation using the voiceover of a news anchor in a broadcast where they announce the names of the restaurants awarded Michelin Stars. I haven't seen this method in any previous film or series, and I think the director lets us know that it's an immediate and very cold process with which news is delivered that can change everyone's professional and personal lives in an instant.

Esta película es de Dinamarca, y tiene un ritmo muy diferente a las que posiblemente estamos acostumbrados con las producciones de Hollywood que son rápidas, con giros, con guiones explosivos, etc. Es más pausada y contemplativa, se toma su tiempo para desarrollar la atmósfera, profundizar en la psicología de los personajes, hay más espacio para ver las microexpresiones, los silencios cargados de significado y las reacciones internas de Carsten y Maggie.

Tiene esa dirección donde su director cree que no hay tanta necesidad de verbalizarlo todo, mucho se comunica a través de la no acción y hasta del silencio. Muchas veces la cámara se queda un poco más en una escena, y podemos procesar lo que está sucediendo emocionalmente sin ser constantemente bombardeados con nuevas informaciones o acción. Para mí fue una experiencia diferente, y si puedes con esta característica de narración y dirección, te aseguro que podrás disfrutar de una gran historia, de reflexionar, de conocer este mundo y tendrás algunos aprendizajes. Si te soy sincera, esta película me gustó más al siguiente día cuando la repensé y mientras la repasaba en mi mente para hacer este post.