[yasr_overall_rating]
A German pastry maker travels to Jerusalem in search of the wife and son of his dead lover.
“The Cakemaker” begins with two men from different worlds being in love and their love for food. The film is a debut from Israeli filmmaker Offir Raul Grazier, who when he’s not behind the camera, offers cooking classes in his spare time. His knowledge and love of the culinary arts shine through. For being a debut screenplay as well, the writing is subtle while being very moving.
Thomas is a pastry chef living in Berlin and is visited by a handsome Israeli gentleman. The Israeli is Oren, who has a wife and child back home. Unbeknownst to his family, Oren is having an affair with Thomas. Grazier does a great job showing the men’s love without exploiting or feeling disingenuous. After Oren returns to Israel for a brief trip, Thomas is devastated to learn Oren has been killed in an accident. Thomas decides to venture to Israel to meet his lover’s widow and child. His widow, named Anat, runs a newly opened Kosher food spot serving middle eastern staples like Shakshuka. After Thomas becomes a frequent customer he offers to work as a dishwasher.
I really enjoyed “The Cakemaker” for being so patient and nuanced. In an excellent scene, Thomas goes to Oren’s gym locker and wears his flip-flops and swim trunks. It’s a testament to the desire to be close to the ones we’ve lost. Another benefit is the story’s setting being split between two countries and cultures. Thomas tries to make special birthday pastries as a kind gesture but is immediately admonished. Because he’s not Jewish, his food isn’t Kosher, luckily Anat has some loopholes in mind. German, Hebrew, and English are spoken throughout, making the themes more universal which transcends the geography. If this debut is any indication of Grazier’s talents, I look forward to his next film.
Opens at the Angelika Film Center in Dallas Friday, July 13th
