Julia
Directed by: Julie Cohen and Betsy West
Rated: PG-13
Julia Child is a pop culture icon. She's a chef who's inspired many in the kitchen. She's a TV trailblazer. Many of us in the film community are familiar with Meryl Streep's wonderful portrayal of Julia Child in the 2009 film Julie and Julia. However, the documentary Julia looks to uncover more details on the chef than what we know from movies and TV appearances. Julia is an in-depth documentary into the life of famed chef Julia Child. The documentary looks to give its audience a glimpse into Julia Child behind the cameras. Julia details the rise of Julia Child from childhood in Massachusetts to research assistant at the OSS to chef extraordinaire. The doc gives details through each stage of her life that give fascinating insight.
I really appreciated how filmmakers Julie Cohen and Betsy West detailed that Julia Child was a trailblazer in so many ways. So few women were prominent chefs during her time. Yet, she always wanted women to have an equal shot. Julia had a larger-than-life personality that is prominently on display throughout the documentary. The clips of her cooking show “The French Chef” are sure to put a smile on your face as she guides the audience through various recipes with enthusiasm, wit, and humor. Not to mention, the many delectable close ups of food are sure to make you quite hungry. Be sure to have a snack nearby.
The documentary is pretty straightforward and doesn't break any new ground in terms of filmmaking technique. It tells the story of Julia's life, showcases interviews from friends and shows clips from her cooking show. It’s great to learn the story of her life and I came away from the film knowing a lot more about her. It all works well, but it’s pretty straightforward. If you're looking for a groundbreaking documentary like "Won't You Be My Neighbor" this doesn't quite reach that level.
I enjoyed learning more about Julia Child as a person and a chef. From her devoted relationship to her husband, Paul, her early start as an OSS research assistant, and her impressive career as a chef and TV host, Julia provides an in-depth look at an icon.
My Rating: 7/10
*Julia is in theaters beginning November 19th