Une affaire de goût (2000)

Director:

Bernard Rapp

Writers:

Philippe Balland (book)
Bernard Rapp (writer)

Release Date:

26 April 2000 (Belgium)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

Seduction comes in many forms...

Plot:

Nicolas, a handsome, young waiter, is befriended by Frédéric Delamont, a wealthy middle-aged businessman...

Plot Keywords:

Obsession | Food Taster | Deceit | Waiter | Businessman

Awards:

4 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Bernard Giraudeau	...	Frédéric Delamont
Jean-Pierre Lorit	...	Nicolas Rivière
Florence Thomassin	...	Béatrice
Charles Berling	...	René Rousset
Jean-Pierre Léaud	...	Le juge d'instruction
Artus de Penguern	...	Flavert
Laurent Spielvogel	...	Doctor Rossignon
Elisabeth Macocco	...	Caroline
Anne-Marie Philipe	...	Doctor Ferrières
Delphine Zingg	...	Nathalie
David D'Ingeo	...	Marco
Frédéric De Goldfiem	...	Félix
Patrick Zimmermann	...	Frédéric's Chauffeur
Claude Lesko	...	Frédéric's Head of Security
Vincent Tepernowski	...	Second Taster

Also Known As:

A Matter of Taste (USA)
A Question of Taste (International: English title)

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

France

Language:

French

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

DTS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | France:U | Mexico:B | Hong Kong:IIB

Filming Locations:

Lyon, Rhône, Rhône-Alpes, France

Company:

Canal+

Soundtrack:

Nisi dominus, RV. 608: 5. Sicut sagittae in manu potentis (Allegro)

The Spider And The Fly

Bernard Giraudeau plays Frederic Delamont, a wealthy, and eccentric, middle aged man who hires Nicolas Riviere, a waiter in an upscale restaurant, to be his "taster". It's a premise that is at least unusual, if not downright unique. Delamont has phobias for certain foods, especially fish and cheese. It's up to Nicolas to shield Delamont from these offensive foods.

As the story unfolds, Nicolas, who has a girlfriend and seems reasonably well adjusted, becomes gradually more ensnared into Delamont's life, to the dismay of the girlfriend. But the perks are nice for Nicolas, so he continues. It's a trap, though, and the question becomes: can Nicolas escape the trap before it's too late.

Although the film's premise is interesting, the plot is slow going, and at times tedious. I'm baffled at Delamont's motivations. He's a powerful businessman who can presumably pull the strings of any number of employees or business associates. Why does he feel the need to control someone in his personal life? I would think his impulse would be the exact opposite.

In any event, this psycho-drama has a "spider and fly" quality to it. The screen story is told in flashbacks, which makes the film confusing, at the beginning. The acting is quite good, overall.

Ultimately though, I just could not identify with the characters in this film. They seemed too remote and too thinly drawn to care about. And the film's dry plot quickly becomes tiresome and dull.