The Ramen Girl

Synopsis:

Abandoned by her boyfriend after following him to Tokyo, an American slacker adrift in a foreign culture witnesses the healing power of food and determines to become a ramen chef. When Abby (Brittany Murphy) arrived in Tokyo, she assumed she was starting a new life with her boyfriend. But that future fades when Abby's boyfriend disappears, leaving her to fend for herself in a city she doesn't understand. In desperate need of a little consolation, the floundering American begins frequenting her neighborhood ramen shop. She feels comfortable there, and recognizes how happy food can make people by the radiant smiles on the customer's faces. Convinced that her true calling is to become a ramen chef, Abby eventually persuades the restaurant's temperamental, tyrannical Japanese chef to become her mentor in the art of making ramen. Though at first their relationship is almost unbearably contentious, the master and his student eventually find a common ground when Abby realizes that the secret ingredient to true ramen is a universe of feeling. Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide (http://www.starpulse.com/Movies/Ramen_Girl,_The/Summary/

Chocolat

Chocolat

In the 19 50s, single mother Vianne Rocher (Binoche) and her 6-year-old daughter move to the small French town of Lansquenet-sous-Tannes, where Vianne opens a chocolate shop, during Lent, across from the town's church (and she's open on Sundays). As you'd imagine in a small town, her wares are soon adored and consumed by the locals, but not without some resentment and opposition. In addition to Vianne's story, this is an ensemble piece drama about the many locals wh o frequent the chocolate shop, and the "Grand Festival of Chocolate" that Vianne holds... on Easter Sunday.

cast:Johnny Depp, Alfred Molina, Lena Olin, Carrie-Anne Moss, Judi Dench, Juliette Binoche, Leslie Caron

A Touch of Spice

"A Touch of Spice" is a story about a young Greek boy (Fanis) growing up in Istanbul, whose grandfather, a culinary philosopher and mentor,teaches him that both food and life require a little salt to give them flavor; they both require... A Touch of Spice. Fanis grows up to become an excellent cook and uses his cooking skills to spice up the lives of those around him. 35 years later he leaves Athens and travels back to his birthplace of Istanbul to reunite with his grandfather and his first love; he travels back only to realize that he forgot to put a little bit of spice in his own life. Written by Anonymous (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0378897/plotsummary)