The Truffle Hunters

The Truffle Hunters is a documentary with a lot of soul. Real people in real situations - gorgeous cinematography that makes me want to move to Italy - and a soundtrack that should win an Academy Award - Composer Ed Cortes is the heir apparent to Nino Rota and that's a good thing. The tragedy is that the score has not been released on CD - yet. I would buy the DVD just to transfer the soundtrack to my iphone.

This documentary is about as rare and strange a subject can get in a film which is the art and the cult of truffle hunting. Now chances are you know nothing about truffles, I know I didn't for that matter. truffles are some sort of auromatic subterranean fungi that can not be cultivated by man in any form or rate, but only be discovered and sold by a handful of old Italian dudes and their trained dogs.

I personally crave for these sort of documentaries which reflect on something I wouldn't have crossed otherwise so I was absorbed and captivated by this film. It employs a beauctiful camera work, at times mounted on a dog, it is very warm and heartful and watching those old men and their dogs go on a hunting session on forests and fields had a very enigmatic charm in it. This is a solid documentary if you like food, dogs, old charming Italian men or wacky documentaries.

Old men and their dogs living a simple life in a rural landscape is what this film is about. To fill in time they hunt for truffles, but being in the country and the bond with their dogs is the essence of the story here.

The landscape is where it all happens and the sense of place, of mood, even of smell, is captured in the scenes at various times of day. It's quite immersive with the action of hunting being a good part of the film and how the men connect with their beloved dogs.

The men are distinct, but also, paradoxically they blend as one in many respects: their lifestyles, their lack of vanity and their bonds with their dogs. If there is one scene that summarizes the film, it's the man who resembles the ancient Leonard da Vinci trying to express why he's frustrated with truffle hunting. He wishes to go back fifty years to a time when being the country, and with the dogs, was what counted, not what happens today where greed is the key motivation. His analogy with seduction is both amusing and telling.

The film is structured in short sequences photographed in a static setting, as if they were paintings, with the subjects composed accordingly. There is no voice-over telling us what is happening, no backstory, we have to understand it as the film develops and this works with excellent editing that expands the story while telling us a bit more about each man and his own personal circumstance. It's very direct, unmediated, except it isn't, but it feels that close, as if we are in their homes, in the musty barns, out of the paths and in the hills.

The dogs complete the three key parts to the film and without them it would not be as an engaging. They are working dogs as well as much loved members of the family, even addressed as such, receiving birthday songs and treats. The dogs' relationship with the men is captured so well, so intimately and authentically, it is sure to make this movie any dog lovers' top film for a very long time.

Many films crave authenticity; they say they are based on real events and inspired by a true story to appeal to our sense of what is true. This movie has authenticity down to the dirt under the fingernails and muddy paws.

Real. I just loved it.... So refreshing without a fast pace and clips .

Stunning photo. Loveable real people.

And a message to a greedy world out there. A masterpiece.

To me this isn't really a documentary, there is no commentary, no explanation, we just see static camera shots of people going about their daily lives. One snippet of an old man washing his dog, both in a tub. A scene of an old man eating his dinner and giving a bite to his dog. An old man and his two dogs climbing a hillside in the woods. Two men bargaining on the price of a few grams of fresh truffles. Two men talking about the idiots who poison dogs.

What all these have in common, they are involved with the ancient art of truffle hunting. I found it interesting but not captivating. It gave me a glimpse into a life and livelihood, or hobby, I knew nothing about. And I am glad about that. However if I were to assign a rating on the 1 to 10 scale, compared to other documentaries, I think "5" would be fine. It was satisfying to a degree but could have been so much better with a bit of work.

On DVD from my public library.