Theater of Life (Peter Svatek, 2016): Italy

Reviewed by Stephen Clark. Viewed in Metro 4 during the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2017.

The Theatre of Life details the events of an amazing soup kitchen in Milan – the Refettorio-Ambrosiano. The kitchen is organized and run by celebrated chef Massimo Bottura and often visited by some of the worlds most renowned chefs including but not limited to Ferran Adria, Rene Redzepi, Alain Ducasse, and Daniel Humm. Massimo is truly an innovator of cuisine and by using food waste from the Expo Milano 2015, he uses his culinary magic to turn these “scraps” into delectable meals. By using “stale” or otherwise wasted bread and creating a culinary masterpiece or even simply appetizing food, Massimo is turning one man’s trash into his form of gold. This touches on some of the themes from the movie that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. By practicing his beliefs, Massimo is able to feed the hungry, the homeless, and those in need. The film also highlights the story of several refugees and homeless, Massimo believes he is not simply providing a meal but rather providing a “soup for the soul” and a means to come together and to increase the morale of the group.

I viewed the Theater of Life in the Metro 4 theatre during the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2017. The film is written and directed by Peter Svatek and he does an amazing job of capturing the orchestra that is Massimo’s kitchen, and he raw emotions of the people that come to the soup kitchen. The cast consists of Massimo Bottura, the several chefs that visit the Refettorio, and the refugees and homeless that tell their story.

Massimo believes that the meals that he serves symbolize a refueling of the soul, and offer a common grounds for people to come together for something other then looking for shelter. The Theater of Life tells the story of several homeless men and women and their struggles to find a  place to call home, to come to peace, and to find validation and meaning in life. One of the men spoke of the harsh reality that after they attend dinner at the Refettorio-Ambrosiano, the underlying problems continue, and the hardships prevail outside of the soup kitchen.

I would highly recommend this film as the story of the Refettorio-Ambrosiano, Massimo, and the people of Milan is extremely powerful and sent a constructive and positive message to the viewer. The theme of turning dust to gold and overcoming adversity to find a better situation is a strong and prevalent message that occurs throughout the picture.