Documentary Of Culinary Opera To Debut In Berlin
The documentary that chronicles the creation of the multimedia culinary opera “El Somni” will premiere at the 65th Berlinale in early February. The film follows the Roca brothers from conception to production as they develop their banquet for the senses. It will show at the Berlin Film Festival as part of its Culinary Cinema lineup, alongside films such as “Natural Resistance” and “Bushi No Kondate (A Tale of Samurai Cooking – A True Love Story).”
The restaurant
The opera “El Somni” was put together by the three brothers behind one of the world’s most highly lauded restaurants, El Celler de Can Roca. The brothers are made of chef Joan Roca, sommelier Josep Roca and pastry chef Jordi Roca. Together they have earned their restaurant international acclaim, garnering a Michelin rating of three stars and the title of 2013 Best Restaurant in the World. Located in Girona, Spain, El Celler de Can Roca focuses on Catalan cuisine while employing some of the most highly advanced scientific techniques in the world. This amounts to such boundary-pushing dishes as charcoal-grilled king prawn with king-prawn sand, ink rocks, fried legs, head juice and king prawn essence.
The opera
Always searching for the next frontier in food, the Roca brothers together developed the opera “El Somni” as a veritable multi-sensory spectacle. Collaboration began with visual artist Franc Aleu to create an opera based on 12 parts that coincided with a 12-course meal for 12 guests. The opera takes place inside of a dome where images are projected onto the walls and table while the guests are enveloped in sound. Meant to be at once a performance art piece as well as an homage to the banquet as a cultural touchstone, “El Somni” creates a lasting impression on all who were fortunate enough to experience it.
The movie
“El Somni” is a documentary that follows the Roca brothers as they launch their experiment in dining and entertainment. The movie itself follows the same form as an operatic show, and is meant to be a piece of art in and of itself. Mirroring the 12 movement structure of the Roca brothers’ culinary opera, the film is at the same time beautiful and intriguing. This fascinating look at the process of some of the greatest culinary minds in the world will undoubtedly be of interest to aspiring chefs and casual foodies alike. Hopefully it will be released state side sometime soon.
