The Hundred-Foot Journey parents guide

The Hundred-Foot Journey Parent Guide

While children and young teens likely won't have a taste for this script, the charming storyline, strong performances and dash of humor make "The Hundred-Foot Journey" well worth the trip.

Overall A-

The Kadam family settles in Southern France with designs on opening an Indian restaurant. Unfortunately their neighbor Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren), who runs a classical French establishment, doesn't want the waft of curry scaring away her customers -- or worse yet, enticing them to taste a little cultural diversity.

Release date August 8, 2014

Violence B-
Sexual Content B+
Profanity B+
Substance Use B-

Why is The Hundred-Foot Journey rated PG? The MPAA rated The Hundred-Foot Journey PG for thematic elements, some violence, language and brief sensuality.

Run Time: 123 minutes

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Parent Movie Review

If watching Julie & Julia made you hungry, then The Hundred-Foot Journey will have you salivating. The beautiful cinematography in this culinary drama makes breaking eggs look like a work of art.

For Madame Mallory (Helen Mirren), the gelid owner of a celebrated restaurant in the south of France, food is art. Her classically trained staff serves some of the finest food in the country. Even the French president dines in her Michelin-starred establishment. So you can understand her disdain when Indian immigrants take up residence in an abandoned cafe directly across the street and precede to open their own eatery. The lights, music and smell of curry are enough to make Madame Mallory confront the town’s mayor (Michel Blanc) with demands to invoke obscure city bylaws.

After being driven from their homeland, the Kadam family is only looking for a place to start over. When their van’s brakes go out in the small town, Papa Kadam (Om Puri) takes it as a sign. And when he discovers the vacant restaurant, he is sure this is where his family is meant to be.

But changing people’s eating habits isn’t easy. Luckily, Papa’s son Hassan (Manish Dayal) is a gifted cook who learned all about food preparation from his mother. Mixing exotic spices with fresh produce and meats, he creates colorful and tantalizing dishes. Yet enticing patrons to try the Indian cuisine takes some tactical efforts on the part of Papa and his other children (Amit Shah, Farzana Dua Elahe, Dillon Mitra and Aria Pandya)—especially when Madame Mallory declares war on her neighbors.

While food takes a starring role in this film, the real story focuses on facing prejudice. When Madame Mallory finally allows herself to taste one of Hassan’s creations, she instantly recognizes his talent. Luring him across the street and into her kitchen isn’t as altruistic as it appears; instead it is the first step in breaking down barriers between the battling restaurateurs.

The film, which includes a handful of mild profanities, a couple of sensual moments and some social drinking, also depicts the importance of family. The Kadams face an uncertain future. As a group, they don’t always agree on things. And the children are often embarrassed by their father’s approach to getting the best price for something. But still they stick together.

Understanding French will add to what you get out of this film. But don’t worry if you don’t speak the language. The majority of the script is in English. And while children and young teens likely won’t have a taste for this script, the charming storyline, strong performances and dash of humor make The Hundred-Foot Journey well worth the trip to a nearby theater.

Directed by Lasse Hallström. Starring Helen Mirren, Rohan Chand, Charlotte Le Bon, Manish Dayal. Running time: 123 minutes. Theatrical release August 8, 2014. Updated

The Hundred-Foot Journey
Rating & Content Info

Why is The Hundred-Foot Journey rated PG? The Hundred-Foot Journey is rated PG by the MPAA for thematic elements, some violence, language and brief sensuality.

Violence: A riot breaks out after an election. People storm an establishment and burn it to the ground killing at least one person. Vandals spray paint a fence and start a building on fire. A man’s hands are burned when his clothes start on fire. Characters argue verbally. A family faces danger when the brakes on their van go out while driving down a mountain road.

Sexual Content: A young couple kisses on a couple of occasions. They are seen coming out of a kitchen pantry looking disheveled.

Language: The script contains only a handful of mild American and British profanities.

Alcohol / Drug Use:Characters drink wine with dinner on several occasions. Alcohol is served in some other social settings. An unhappy man drinks alone at a bar, and on the job in another scene.

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The Hundred-Foot Journey Parents' Guide

While looking for a new home, Papa says home is where your family is. Do you agree? What do you think makes a place a home?

How do cultures clash in this movie? How do Papa’s children respond when he begins to barter with shop owners and others? How does Papa define frugal and cheap? In what other ways does the Kadam family’s culture stand out in their new community?

Why is the mayor hesitant to come down too hard on either side of the battle between the restaurateurs? How does the film depict the idea of “meeting in the middle”?

How does Hasan’s new job in Paris take him away from his culinary roots? How does that impact the way he feels about life? How is cooking a sensory experience?

This movie is based on the book The Hundred-Foot Journey by Richard C. Morais.

Home Video

The most recent home video release of The Hundred-Foot Journey movie is December 2, 2014. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: The Hundred-Foot Journey
Release Date: 2 November 2014
The Hundred-Foot Journey releases to home video (Blu-ray/Digital Copy) with the following extras:
- The Hundred-Foot Journey With Steven Spielberg & Oprah Winfrey
- The Recipe, The Ingredients, The Journey
- On Set With Oprah Winfrey
- Coconut Chicken

Related home video titles:

Talented cooks are also features in the films No Reservations, Julie & Julia and Ratatouille.

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