Anthony Bergamini
Ratatouille is a 2007 animated film from Pixar Studios, directed by the longstanding Pixar legend Brad Bird. The film follows the adventures of a rat living in Paris, Remy, and a human chef, Alfredo Linguini. With Remy’s guidance, Linguini becomes a notable chef at a restaurant previously owned by the now-deceased, renowned chef Auguste Gusteau. The film combines an anthropomorphic sensibility with a semi-realistic depiction of modern Paris, weaving a tale about self-worth, inherent values, and legacy.
The film opens with Remy detailing the story of his life, that of a rat living in an old woman’s house in the French countryside. All of Remy’s family live for one thing and one thing only: eating whatever food they can find. Remy decides that he does not want to live this way, choosing instead to diversify his palate and only eat foods that are fresh and prepared correctly. He is inspired by the teachings of renowned chef Auguste Gusteau, who recently passed away but left the world with an important teaching: “anyone can cook.” Remy and his family are forced from their home after he grows greedy and makes the old woman aware of their presence, leading to a chase sequence that separates him from the others.
Meanwhile, Alfredo Linguini is sent by his deceased mother to Gusteau’s restaurant to work, where he gets a job as a garbage man and janitor. Starved for food, Remy accidentally enters the restaurant and is encouraged by a vision of the late Gusteau to fix a soup that Linguini accidentally spilled and ruined. The soup is served to numerous guests who fall in love with it, with Linguini taking credit after refusing to admit that the rat was behind everything. This leads to the pair teaming up, with Remy controlling Linguini’s actions via his hair, turning him into one of the most successful chefs in Paris.
One of the most endearing things about this film is its simplicity. Yes, Remy is portrayed as an anthropomorphic rat, but that is mostly among himself and his family. To Linguini, Remy is just a rat who happens to be an excellent chef. Most of the film is grounded in some semblance of reality, albeit with the typical Pixar touches that keep it true to the studio’s core. Depicting a film like this in a somewhat realistic Paris kitchen might seem like it could become boring or tiring; however, Brad Bird ensures that the character-driven plot keeps it engaging throughout.
The duality of Remy growing into the chef he dreams of being while Linguini embraces his destiny is what makes this film truly stand the test of time. About halfway through the film, it is revealed that Linguini is the lost son of the late Gusteau, and is thus the rightful heir to the restaurant. This creates a dichotomy between the two: one is an untalented rightful heir, and the other is a genuinely talented chef who must hide because of his nature as a rat. It is the pairing of these two and the lessons they learn that make the simple story flow so well and remain so memorable.
This film would not be the same without the score by Michael Giacchino. He brings a powerful soundtrack that has been widely regarded as one of the most memorable of his career. As soon as the music begins, the film starts playing in your head. Oddly enough, this is also a soundtrack that many Americans associate with France despite being from an American production, highlighting the authenticity that Giacchino achieves.
After rewatching this film for the first time in about a decade, I was inspired to make the titular dish. For those curious, the dish consists of sliced tomato, eggplant, and zucchini baked in a tomato-based sauce. The sauce is where most of the creativity lies, with different recipes producing different flavors that are absorbed into the vegetables, creating a satisfying and healthy dish. For my sauce, I went with a basic pairing of crushed tomatoes, diced onion, shredded carrot, dried parsley, and oregano. For those hesitant about healthy foods, know that this dish combines everything nicely, creating a simple but comforting combination of flavors. If you choose not to make it, that is fine as well, but I have to say, you will not be getting the full film experience unless you do.
