Danish movie, The Food Club is a gentle movie about life-long friendships, food and wonderful Italian scenery. A perfect antidote to a five day Covid lockdown.

Set around Christmas we meet three school friends – Vanja (Kirsten Lehfeldt) who has been widowed for many years but unable to move on; Berling (Stina Ekblad) a swinging single grandmother who dislikes children; and Marie (Kirsten Olesen) who has just received a Christmas present from her husband of 44 years, two tickets to a cooking course in Puglia, Italy.

When Marie’s husband takes a walk that night she follows, only to find him in the arms of a fluffy ‘garden gnome’ looking woman. What to do?

Being women of a certain age, and with no ties, they decide to use the tickets and go to the cooking school together.

What follows is a gentle exploration of self, friendship, the healing power of nature, love second time around and what it really means to live a full life.

The Food Club movie reminded me of The Book Club with Jane Fonder and Diane Keaton, where a group of older females friends reunited only to act like giggling sixteen year olds. While that movie was an embarrassment to all older women, The Food Club shows how it should have been done. While struggling with their lives, the women of The Food Club maintain their dignity. The movie is a little Sex And The City (but G rated) meets The Golden Girls.

Make sure you eat beforehand.

English subtitles

Rating: 6/10

For more information go to Luna Cinemas