This film surprised me.  And, I’m not talking about several graphic scenes of animals being butchered (consider yourself warned).  Cooking History brings a set of perspectives from military cooks to what is essentially an examination of the culture of war, and its innovative structure relies on recipes provided by those being interviewed in a device that turns out to be very effective.

Some of the revelations from stories told in this film are jaw-dropping, yet some of the sequences are quite whimsical.  The wide-range of emotional tones in the film – those revealed in the stories and those suggested by the staging of interviews and events – mesh into a singular narrative that can be read on several levels.  The film is also well-crafted.  The production values are exceptionally high, and archival materials are carefully chosen and well-integrated into the film.

I suspect I will remember this film for a very long time as a documentary that is a little offbeat and, at times, profound.  It has me thinking…

Screenings April 18, 23, and 24 at RiverRun.  See the website (http://www.riverrunfilm.com) for details.