The Truffle Hunters
directed by Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw
starring Piero Botto, Sergio Cauda, Maria Cicciù
Sony Classics
Up in the hills of Italy, elderly man seek the precious white truffles aided only by their faithful dogs and arcane knowledge of where to find these delicate fungi. Outsiders want to push them aside by poisoning their dogs. One hunter is harangued by his wife to give up the hunt lest he die in the mountains. I believe is his plan. Along the way we meet the mysterious truffle brokers, the high end auctions and the connoisseurs. Deals begin in the Piedmontese mud and end in sparkling restaurants in Rome. Buyers, the middlemen, and the high end gourmands make this engine work, and all are fascinating fanatics. Its an insular world, and don’t those always make the best documentaries? Come for the flavor, but enjoy the odd characters along the way.
