20130807: Documentary Review--The Raw and the Cooked

Das Rohe und das Gekochte (The Raw and the Cooked)

1. This a much enlarged update of the 20130525 short review. 
2. German live action straight-to-video film released in 2012, 83 minutes, documentary.
3. IMDB: 5.5/10.0 from 8 user reviews.  I added my 10/10 to that.
4. Rotten Tomatoes: 'not rated yet' and no audience ratings.
5. Available streaming on Netflix, and on DVD from Amazon.
6. German director and writer Monica Treut's  culinary journey around the island of Taiwan.
7. The film visits the Amis people, the Hakka people, the Han Chinese on Taiwan.
8. Gathering food, preparing food, delivering food, and enjoying food are displayed from the standpoints of the groups listed above.
9. Documentary had a lot to say about remembering one's culture through food ceremonies, about the interactions of food consumption and health, about using locally grown and recently harvested foods.
10. Five stars of five.

One line summary:  Fine documentary about Taiwanese culture and cuisine.

Cinematography: 10/10 Excellent camera work throughout; well-lit, sharp focus, and good framing are common.  Many of the settings are beautiful, and the camera work catches that.

Sound: 10/10 Music was fine, very much including the local ethnic music.  The speakers and singers were sufficiently miked.  For many of the Taiwanese spoke in their native language; the subtitles seemed sufficient.

Acting: 8/10 Most of the local chosen for the film were good at illustrating food growing, preparing, eating, and singing before feasts.  Some of the Han Chinese restaurant scenes were a bit crowded and busy and not very informative.

Screenplay: 10/10 I liked the travel format, with strong references to local customs.  The story moved right along as the island was traversed.