Film Forum

12:50 & 5:40 ONLY

Deep in the forests of Piedmont, Italy, a handful of men, seventy or eighty years young, hunt for the rare and expensive white Alba truffle—which to date has resisted all of modern science’s efforts at cultivation. They’re guided by a secret culture and training passed down through generations, as well as by the noses of their cherished and expertly trained dogs. They live a simpler, slower way of life, in harmony with their loyal animals and their picture-perfect land, seemingly straight out of a fairy tale. They’re untethered to cell phone screens or the Internet, opting instead to make their food and drink by hand and prioritizing in-person connections and community. The demand for white truffles increases year after year, even as the supply decreases. As a result of climate change, deforestation, and the lack of young people taking up the mantle, the truffle hunters’ secrets are more coveted than ever. However, as it soon becomes clear, these ageing men may just hold something much more valuable than even this prized delicacy: the secret to a rich and meaningful life. The film played at the 2020 Sundance, Cannes, Toronto & New York Film Festivals, among many others.

2020    84 MINS.    ITALY / USA / GREECE    IN ITALIAN AND PIEDMONTESE WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES    SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

Reviews

“The cast of characters is like something out of an absurdist comedy. The film also is striking for its visual poetry and the painterly quality of its images… (with) compositions both simple and beautiful. A fascinating glimpse inside a world of arcane knowledge and the luxury market that feeds off it. It’s foodie heaven.”
– David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter

“Absolutely sublime...an enchanting and immersive documentary. THE TRUFFLE HUNTERS is an exhilarating, sophisticated, and life-affirming delicacy.”
– Kristy Puchko, Pajiba

“Here’s a challenge: Watch the opening moments and try not to fall hard for the immediate flavors of joy it spreads. With a breathtaking Northern Italy setting that teases the five senses… this delicate treat… oozes a cinematic perfume both  delightful and distinctive. (With) a luxuriant palette that demands to be savored. The human characters and their impossibly cute and clever dogs go on about their daily routines amid these scrumptious tableaux. Charms and disarms with an innocent and melancholic quality. It’s a complex picture that Kweck and Kershaw navigate with respect, curiosity and a sense of awe.”
– Tomris Laffly, Variety

 “Does not trade in foodie porn. Instead, we attune our senses to subtler virtues: the indefinable companionship between man and beast, and the mystical quiet of the forest.”
– Joshua Rothkopf, Sight + Sound