 |
| Courtesy of Sony Pictures |
The
second documentary feature film by visual artist and filmmaker Michael Dweck, The
Truffle Hunters, is at once a pure experiential slice-of-life promenade
through the woods of Northern Piedmont, Italy following three aged Italian men
on the hunt for the elusive Alba truffle as well as a relaxing and serene
travelogue through the terrain housing one of the world’s most sought after
elite delicacies.
 |
| Courtesy of Sony Pictures |
Mostly the film
provides an unfettered gaze upon the world of truffle hunting, purchasing,
display, sales and finally consumption of the prized culinary Earthly
confection. Also the film, like the
projectionist documentary The Dying of the Light, helps to shed some
details on the isolated personalities of the aptly named Truffle Hunters.
Understated,
subdued and largely quiet with a stillness that’s occasional offset by rapid
sequences involving a camera strapped to the back of a hunting dog that’s part
of a pack of truffle detectors, The Truffle Hunters is the very
definition of a relaxing cinematic promenade.
While the lives of the three truffle hunters shown onscreen range from
amusing to somber, the Luca Guadagnino produced documentary makes you want to
rally behind these lost but largely happy souls who hold the keys to the Earth’s
most prized possessions.
 |
| Courtesy of Sony Pictures |
At
times the documentary, co-directed by Gregory Kershaw, feels formless as it
casually trots between the three characters at random while cutting back and
forth between the Piedmont forests and a sumptuous truffle dish on display
surrounded by wine bottles, photographers and bidders eager to buy up the
culinary delights at hand. The mood and
overall tone of the film mostly conveys what it feels like to actually BE one
of the truffle hunters at hand, including a heartbreaking aside involving one
of the hunters losing his dog after eating a poison trap set by criminals
trying to thwart the truffle hunters.
Still,
the best description of The Truffle Hunters besides portraying the disparity
between the struggling truffle hunters and the wealthy elites is that it is a
hangout film. You spend some time with
these characters digging in the tree roots for truffles, get to live with them
for a little while, see what keeps them returning for more and then pack your
bags and head home from your brief cinematic vacation.
 |
| Courtesy of Sony Pictures |
Some
viewers, even dedicated documentary consumers, might come away feeling a bit
cold from the trip particularly with how many static running long takes the
film contains. Still others, like
myself, will come away tickled pink by the delightful deliciousness on display
and will want to head out to the nearest fancy restaurant for one of your own
truffle treats, if you can afford it.
--Andrew Kotwicki
