Quentin Tarantino, the master of postmodern cinema, has woven throughout his extensive filmography a parallel plot where food stands as a powerful channel of expression. From his debut with Reservoir Dogs to the culinary odes in Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood, and beyond, the director has turned gastronomy into a symbolism that intensifies the plot and enriches the narrative of their audiovisual projects.
In Pulp Fiction Tarantino displays a visual feast of fast food, reflecting the director’s obsession with this type of diet and giving life to a shared metaphor about fast consumption and the consideration of what is labeled as garbage. The iconic scene at Jack Rabbit Slim’s, where Vince takes Mia to dinner, reveals the extreme love for burgers, shakes and other delicacies of the time.
In Kill Bill: Vol. 1, the sushi prepared by Hattori Hanzo not only serves to show viewers what Japanese customs are, but also becomes a metaphor for the relationship. As the plates get bigger, the relationship goes deeper. So through food the evolution of the relationship is narrated.
In Reservoir Dogs, although with a shorter menu, he uses food to reveal aspects of the characters’ character, such as the desperation expressed by Holdaway in a late-night diner.
Meanwhile, in Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood, Cliff’s preparation of dinner for Brandy the dog reflects the character’s lifestyle and becomes a metaphor for the similarities shared between man and his pet. . Furthermore, it is in the bars, in the middle of many drinks, when a change of stage of the characters occurs, and where transcendental decisions are made.
The constant presence of food and drinks in Tarantino’s films goes beyond simple setting, becoming a fundamental element to establish dynamics between characters, exert power and control, and accompany the dialogues of the scenes.
