“Master of the House” is a short film offering a snapshot of a sommelier and his gal pal chef at a Vancouver restaurant specializing in “indigenous reclamation cuisine”.
Vince (Brendan Meyer) is a sommelier at a popular restaurant being part poet and perhaps equal part bullshitter selling the appropriate wine with dishes served by the restaurant. He also serves dishes with that annoying and insincere voice. It is all so pretentious and theatrical one questions the sincerity of Vince and if the short has a large satirical streak in. Many of us have had the act played on us by somms.
But there is also a portrayal of the brutal nature of the restaurant business. High pressure and stress for all. A great sense of diplomacy is required for when Vince opens a bottle of “young wine” for a diner who says no way you should pair a young wine with a “classic dish”. Vince replies with brilliant diplomacy.
Then there is the restaurant critic with yet more theatrical language oozing pomposity and arrogance and the close up of his mouth chewing food and manically swilling the wine in the glass all making for a hilarious scene. Watch Vince screw up with the critic who takes the opportunity to wield a sharp blade to do his best to decimate the career of Dylan purely for the fun of it.
A delightful mockery of the hidden and highly visible inanity of fine dining. A night of pure hell for an ambitious sommelier.
“Master of the House” was directed and co-written by Dylan Maranda and will have its world premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival on Friday September 29 at 20:30 hours.
You can watch the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icljqvUbyuw
RKS 2023 Film Rating 85/100.
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