Title: A Taste of Sky
Rating: Not Yet Rated
Director: Michael Lei
Starring: Michelangelo Cistari, Claus Meyer, Kamilla Seidler
Runtime: 1h 25m

What is it: The film delicately details the journey of two students from Gustu, the groundbreaking cooking school and fine-dining restaurant founded by Noma’s Claus Meyer in La Paz, Bolivia.

What we think: Educational, Inspiring, and in some ways, shocking. This documentary was very enlightening in showing both the similarities and polarities of the lives of two students trying to make it in the culinary world. It was inspiring to learn about the struggles both individuals faced in their lives with their families and how cooking helped to heal them from that experience and environment. To see the passion on their faces when they talk about how much cooking has brought so much joy in their lives is the kind of passion I wish everyone cultivated. It was also really interesting to see how their upbringing and the environment they grew up in really shaped their take on food having had grown up in a place where they were surrounded by the beauty of nature. One aspect of this documentary that I loved was the in-depth interview with chef Claus Meyer. Quite often chefs have a reputation for being cutthroat with their criticism and made to look heartless. I appreciated him talking about his upbringing and his toxic relationship with his father and how that molded his passion for wanting to work in the culinary arts. It was also wonderful hearing about the passion he gained from eating French cuisine and how he wanted to share that with the rest of the world.

Our grade: A, This is definitely a very inspiring and uplifting documentary that teaches the lesson that you don’t have to let your past define who you are or where you are going in life. To see all three individuals use their pain to further themselves and mold a bright and positive future for themselves and others definitely make for a very fulfilling film!