Green Book (2018)
While not intended to be a food film, having recently watched and thoroughly enjoyed Green Book for the first time, by the time the end credits rolled I was left with a craving for fried chicken. Food is used in the film to show Italian American bouncer-turned-driver and bodyguard, Tony Vallelonga’s (Vigo Mortensen) appetite for life. He eats giant slices of pizza in bed as if his life depended on it, wolfs down hot dogs in an eating competition to earn enough money to feed his family, and tears at gargantuan sandwiches while he drives like a bear devouring fresh meat.
As he and classical pianist Don Shirley (Mahershala Ali) become closer while they venture deeper into the Deep South during Shirely’s concert tour, in one scene the pair bond over fried chicken. Horrified at the thought of having to eat with his fingers, prim perfectionist Shirley is eventually persuaded by Vallelonga to try some Kentucky Fried Chicken from a bargain bucket. Throughout the film Tony helps to loosen Don up, while Don, in turn, opens Tony’s eyes to the beauty of classical music and the joys of letter writing.
