EL BULLI - COOKING IN PROGRESS

Germany, 2010
108 minutes
directed by: Gereon Wetzel

A process, undocumented as of yet, in the alchemic laboratory of the world’s most exclusive restaurant, and an encounter with passion and creativity of its creator, Ferran Adrià, one of the most famous and innovative chefs of today.

This is an exciting quest – from the initial experiments to the premiere of the finished dish. In the course of that process, various basic ingredients are examined in a completely new way. Taste and texture are systematically analyzed: by boiling, roasting, frying, steaming; by vacuumizing and freeze-drying; and finally, by tasting. Ideas emerge, are discussed and all the results, whether good or bad, are thoroughly documented – on a laptop beside the cooking spoon. And according to that extensive documentation, a grandiose finale is prepared – topped with the final touch of the great chef, incredible and marvelous bites are finally presented to the guests.

Ferran Adrià would ask himself in jest, "And what were they serving at El Bulli?" only to instantly answer: “Water!” That is a concept that is at the same time both complex and simple, just as is often the case with great ideas. Gereon Wetzel recognizes the multiple layers and importance of this simple creative process. With complete devotion, not letting a single detail escape him, he conveys the excitement of the alchemist who is once again about to examine and discover the world and nature.

A masterfully precise and sophisticated documentary approach, completely in line with the marvelous process it documents.

Selector's Word: Well, for someone who loves good food... you just sit and enjoy an artistic performance and feel lucky to be invited into a laboratory, where you constantly think, is that really necessary... of course it is, and even if most of us will not have the means to eat in a restaurant like El Bulli was, this is a truly inspirational journey.

www.elbullimovie.com

Gereon Wetzel

Born in 1972 in Bonn, Germany. Earned M.A. in Prehistory and Archeology from Heidelberg University. Worked for a year as a language teacher in Barcelona, then as an archeologist in Girona, Spain. Studied from 2000 to 2006 at the Munich Film School (HFF München). Cofounder of the documentary label “DocCollection”. He lives and works as a filmmaker and lecturer in Munich.

SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY

CASTELLS, 2006
THE REPRODUCTION CRISIS (Die Reproduktionskrise), 2007 (with Jörg Adolph)
HOW TO MAKE A BOOK WITH STEIDL, 2010 (with Jörg Adolph)
EL BULLI – COOKING IN PROGRESS, 2010

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