Category Archives: Film

05.29.14
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Too Hungry for the Movies? Victoria’s Foodie Film Festival Returns June 20-23!

The Two Hungry Blokes have not retired from reporting into our adventures into foodie culture. Posts have slowed down since we discovered that eBlogger is deleting/messing up a fair number of our posts and images. We are working on moving all our articles to a new system and polishing them up. All new food-specific content we’ve racked up will be posted at our new site than here.

At the same time, we are also planning on taking on a few new challenges: to expand our exploration into all things Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands based that catches our interest. That will include more forays into dinner theatre, movies or culture and events around town.

To launch things off: The 2nd Annual Victoria Foodie Film Festival returns this June 20-23rd! This year seven films will highlight a global banquet of delights. More information can be found by checking out each film’s entry in the Internet Movie Database and tickets can be bought here.

Hey Bartender
Jadoo: Kings of Curry
43rd Golden Scallop
Zone Pro Site: A Movable Feast
A Tale of Samurai Cooking
The Organic Life
Brasserie Romantique

The Victoria Film Festival recommends that tickets be bought in advance. A very limited amount of tickets will be offered at the door as the room where the films are played in has a limited capacity and these shows may not necessarily offer standing room only.

02.13.14
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[Victoria Film Festival ’14] Looking for Hidden Messages in Slow Food Story

When I have often talked about how really good food must taste, like the flavour from the land it comes from, going to see Slow Food Story at the Victoria Film Festival ’14 was a must. I did not know much about what this movie is. Other than the hints from the plot summary in the guide, I purposely did not want to know more than I should before sitting at the balcony.

What I watched was part documentary and part TedX presentation. It felt like I was back in college, sitting in at a Art History class. This movie looks more at the life and times of Carlin Petrini, the founder of the Slow Food Movement, than be a celebration of food. The latter is there, in the form of moving pictures of the food expos and parties that can happen, but there needs to be more to this film than to get political.

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02.09.14
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[Victoria Film Festival ’14] Getting Into the Mystic with In the Magic of the Green Mountains

Some viewers may well be whistling to John Denver’s Country Roads after watching In the Magic of the Green Mountains. This blissful documentary looks at the life of Jeff and Melanie Carpenter, who undertake a monumental task to start up an organic farm to grow mostly herbs in the hills of Vermont, located in the northeastern United States.

But the toe-tapping bluegrass music is not the only rhythm to be found in this film. Instead, it’s about the perseverance made by two individuals looking to make a difference for everyone who benefits from the plants they grow. From the businesses who source from them to their own emotional well being, this movie is ultimately about man versus Nature — the human one and the elemental one. This movie is like a cheerleader for the 100-mile diet, and although food is not necessarily part of this movie’s presentation, it’s the herbs and how it can be used to heal the soul that makes this movie charming.

Most of the flora being grown have medicinal value, and in most of what’s being grown are being made into teas. Some are medicinal and others are simply used to drink to offer serendipity.

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02.04.14
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The Victoria Film Festival offers more than just Foodie Delights!

Victoria Film Festival
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Runs from Feb 7 – 16

Various Venues

Half of the Two Hungry Blokes is definitely getting excited for the Victoria Film Festival not only for the foodie treats before going to a show, but for the smorgasbord of films offered. This year marks their 20th anniversary, and the celebrations are going to be deep in 60’s nostalgia. Tickets are almost gone for their gala event this coming Friday, but when all the really good films that I want to see are playing on that one night, I had to forgo buying a ticket to this event.

Depending on how well Chinese New Year treats me for lucky money, I may take on a Sips n’ Cinema event instead. This year features Slow Food Story, ¡ATRACO! and Putzel as part of the theme. Fortunately, for those folks just interested in the film Slow Food Story can be seen by itself. I plan on going to see this film along with In the Magic of the Green Mountains.

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02.09.13
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Lunch Time Shorts at the Victoria Film Festival ’13

The Victoria Film Festival (VFF) started their week of movies with a series of food-related shorts that I couldn’t resist going to see. I could have paid to participate in the Feast and Film program, where movie-goers are treated to a meal at Spinnakers (that I’ve reviewed a few years ago) and a movie, Azul Intangible, a film about oceanic life in the northwestern part of Mexico. Fortunately, I had the willpower because I do need to start saving my money.

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02.04.13
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Movie & Food News & Reviews: Godzilla’s Alive! And Uchida Keeps the Tradition

Uchida Eatery/Shokudo
A22-633 Courtney St.
Nootka Court
Victoria, BC
250-388-7383

In a mad rush to a Springboard Lecture to launch 2013’s Victoria Film Festival, a quick bite was needed. Inside Nootka Court, I lucked out at seeing that Uchida was still open. I remember this place used to be Daidoco, but this operation closed before James and I could return to weigh in at more of the tastes this Japanese diner offered.

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