Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown Season 8, Episode 5: Houston, In Defense of Food,
Chef’s Table: Mashama Bailey, and Ugly Delicious: Season 1, Episode 1: Pizza are four documentaries center around food. However, most of these documentaries are not actually about food rather they have a deeper story behind the food. Each documentary does this in their own style and this post is going the analyze that style.
First, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown Season 8, Episode 5: Houston is a host-driven documentary about food in the Houston, Texas area. The food is just the surface level subject. The deeper subject is about the stereotype-breaking cultural diversity in Houston, Texas. Anthony Bourdain, the charismatic host of this documentary uses food as source of connection with his interviewees. His interviewees are questioned about various topics: immigration, the school system, farming in an urban environment, and their overall opinion of Houston and the United States. This documentary effectively paints a diverse picture of Houston.
As for style, the host-driven style that this documentary uses is essential to its effectiveness. Anthony Bourdain is able retain an open mind to all of the cultures and foods he is exposed to. Additionally, he asks respectful questions while retain a light-hearted and friendly manner. This documentary proves that with the right host, a host-driven documentary can be engaging and effective in delivering it’s message.
Next, In Defense of Food is a host driven documentary and, contrary to Parts Unknown, is about food. Michael Pollen, in In Defense of Food attempts to answer the question of “how does one eat healthy?” Pollen answers this question with is seven-word guideline — Eat food, mostly vegetables, and not too much. Then he breaks down each phrase into more specific guidelines while using footage and interviews from various history, healthy eating movements, and scientific research. This documentary is mostly informational rather than story driven, but a story is present. The story is Pollen progression of finding the answer to his question.
Now, Pollen’s argument is very effective. The attention to detail and the multitude of sources make one want to switch diets. By the end of the documentary the viewer will have a very clear picture of the modern food industry and how to work around it.
Third, Chef’s Table: Mashama Bailey, is similar to Parts Unknown in how food is a subject matter that the documentary’s story is built around. However that is where the similarities end. This documentary is interview driven not host driven. Additionally, this documentary is very dramatic. If follows the story of Mashama Bailey, an African American Chef based in Savannah, Arkansas. Bailey’s story is presented by interviews of her and her friends and coworkers, and it follows and classic three act storyline. Her story, which contains racial issues, career switching, and starting a business is inspiring and powerful. If inspiration to follow ones dreams was the point of documentary, than the message was effectively told. However, if the documentary focus was the Bailey unique cuisine than that aspect of the documentary was overwhelmed by Bailey’s life story. Overall it was an emotional documentary with two potential messages.
Finally, Ugly Delicious: Season 1, Episode 1: Pizza, was a host driven documentary. This documentary is the weakest of the four mentioned in this post. The documentary attempts to answer the question of “what is the best pizza in the world?” The documentary tries to split into two different narrative threads to explore this question, but there is not really a story in either thread. This is the greatest downfall in this documentary. The other four documentaries had their own stories, but this documentary is lacking. Ultimately, the question posed by Ugly Delicious is never answered. Despite the high production value, this documentary falls short of its intent, and is not effective in the end.
All of these documentaries present food in unique ways, and attempt to tell a story with them. Overall, the documentaries are worth watching with exception of Ugly Delicious.
Good job on describing each documentary.