"The King's Feast" is a historical epic film directed by Zhang Yimou, which mainly revolves around the ancient Chinese food culture and the lavish banquets of the monarchs.
The story takes place in the period after Qin Shi Huang unified the Six Kingdoms, and in the context of that era of constant wars and frequent alternating powers, "The King's Feast" brings the audience into the court life and various major historical events at that time. Although these big names have their own political aspirations and power struggles, they all share a common understanding and pursuit of "beauty" - that is, the dishes on the luxurious table.
In The King's Feast, we can see many elaborate foods and delicacies. From the delicious grilled meats to the sweet and delicious pastries to the crispy seafood, all of them reflect the culinary skills and unique insights of the people of the time. At the same time, the combination of ingredients with different regional characteristics also shows the rich and diverse product resources and cultural coexistence of the land of China.
What's more, the film vividly demonstrates some of the basic elements and etiquette rules of ancient Chinese dining culture by showing the dishes and drinks at the banquet in the palace. For example, the eight traditional Chinese cuisines (Shandong, Sichuan, Cantonese, Suzhou, Zhejiang, Fujian, Hunan and Hui) are all represented in the film, which is accompanied by some royal exclusive wines such as Moutai and Wuliangye. Not only that, but the different levels of cooking techniques used at large royal banquets, such as the Manchu and Han banquets, also give a glimpse into the lifestyle and unique status symbols of ancient Chinese emperors.
The King's Feast not only focuses on the cuisine of ancient China, but also reveals human nature and social issues through the description of a series of important historical events. For example, in the film, the process of Chen Sheng and Wu Guang's uprising uses the illusion that the emperor prepared an unprecedented grand banquet in order to eliminate the opposition of some dissatisfied nobles, but this only intensified the suspicion of some people, which further intensified the contradictions until a large-scale peasant revolt broke out.
"The King's Feast" is a charming costume blockbuster that has successfully attracted the attention of many fans with its rich visual effects and unique story content. The film presents us with a magnificent and colorful historical picture by showcasing the exquisite food, excellent culinary techniques and long-standing cultural heritage of ancient China, and at the same time allows people to have a deeper understanding of the social background and humanistic spirit of this era. Whether it is a person who loves food or history and culture, there is something for everyone.