Quentin Tarantino’s Food Scenes Explained — A Cookbook for Power Dynamics and Tonal Shifts

Quentin Tarantino food scenes explained — How Tarantino uses food to build character, power dynamics and create extreme tonal shifts.

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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to Tarantino’s Food
01:02 - Food and Cinema
01:43 - Chapter 1 - Characterization
02:58 - Chapter 2 - Character Dynamics
05:35 - Chapter 3 - Tonal Shifts
11:02 - Reviewing the Techniques
11:32 - Check out the Blog

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Quentin Tarantino Food Scenes

Food in Quentin Tarantino movies isn’t an accident or an afterthought. Everything a character eats and drinks is a deliberate choice for one or all of the following reasons: to build characterization, to create relationships between characters, or to amplify tonal shifts. In this video, we’re going to bite into everything going on in Quentin Tarantino food scenes to see if we can come up with a recipe for how he uses this motif.

Food scenes in movies are a dime a dozen but the actual food and drinks are typically treated as set dressing, or as busy work for the actors while the dialogue drives the scenes. Food in Quentin Tarantino movies also functions this way but that’s just the beginning. We learn a little more about these characters by their preferred food and drink. Think of Jules’ aversion to pork in Pulp Fiction or how much Ordell from Jackie Brown loves screwdrivers. These small details help make Tarantino’s characters more specific and interesting.

Another way we see food in Quentin Tarantino movies is how it is used to create or enhance the relationships between characters. Sometimes, this is a romantic relationship — like Clarence and Alabama in True Romance having pie. But more often than not, Quentin Tarantino food scenes become a stage for power dynamics to play out. Hans Landa uses the opulence of strudel with creme as a form of control over Shoshanna. Pai Mei rewards his tutee with rice only after Beatrix struggles and succeeds with the chopsticks. And, of course, Jules taking a huge bite out of Brett’s Big Kahuna Burger is the ultimate power move.

The final way we see food in Quentin Tarantino movies is even more unique and specific. And that is to create maximum contrast between food and violence. As Tarantino admits in an interview, he relishes playing the audience like an orchestra and shifting tones on a dime. Sometimes this is done with humor but he also employs food and drink for the same purpose. One minute, the characters are enjoying an indulgent meal, and the next minute they find themselves in a bloodbath. By mixing the pleasures of food with the pain of violence, Tarantino creates extreme contrast, subverts expectations, and gives the audience his one-of-a-kind cinematic experience. This is the power of Quentin Tarantino food scenes.


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VIDEO EDITOR: BRANDON SCULLION
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♬ SONGS USED:

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“Twisted Nerve” - Bernard Herman
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“Goodnight Moon” - Shivaree
“Strawberry letter 23” - The Brothers Johnson
“Crane/White Lightning” - Charles Bernstein
“The Flower of Carnage” - Meiko Kaji
“Down In Mexico” - The Coasters
“That Certain Female” - Charlie Feathers
“Run Fay Run” - Isaac Hayes
“The Verdict (Dopo La Condanna)” - Ennio Morricone
“Staggolee” - Pacific Gas Electirc
“I’m Blue” - The 5.6.7.8’s
“Baby, It’s You” - Smith

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