Julie & Julia

The new Nora Ephron film follows Julie, a present day New Yorker who challenges herself to prepare every recipe in Julia Child's massive cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. Although there are over 500 recipes, including aspic made with a calf's foot, Julie is determined to prepare each dish over the course of one year and blog about her experience. We see how her audacious goal affects her day job, her marriage and ultimately her own self-esteem. The film also tells the story of Julia Child, living in Paris during the 1950's and how she develops her love of food first by attending cooking school, then teaching and finally writing her grand cookbook.

A 'chick flick' generally refers to films that are heavy with emotion or contain themes that are relationship-based. The central characters of Julie & Julia have supportive husbands and loyal friends that champion their culinary efforts. Beyond the obvious pillow talk with their husbands or lunch with their girlfriends, both Julie of today and Julia of post war France are clearly embarking on a different journey; a relationship with their most ambitious, outrageous inner self. Nora Ephron's smart writing and direction, explores the modern female: capable, dynamic, ambitious and can cook too!