So yesterday on the Dlife Channel (its a channel where they show a lot of English shows) they aired the film, Toast, which was released in 2010. Its based on the famous English cook/writer, Nigel Slater`s autobiographical novel! I actually couldn`t wait to see it because I firstly love Freddie Highmore! incredible acting skills! and secondly, because it was based on a real life person! Bottom line. It looked interesting and a must-see for people who like mixing up different concoctions in their kitchen!
I haven`t read the actual autobiography, which is originally a book with the same title, but I thought it was different and interesting in a good sense. The plot or story was about Nigel living with his family, where no one cooks, only heat vegetables in a can for a meal. And it follows a tragedy where his mother, who cannot cook, dies of a lung disease and leaves her arrogant and bitter husband and curious son. While the two are trying to get on with their lives, Nigel tries to cook for his father, getting advice from one of his best friends that a secret to a man`s happiness is through his stomach (so cliche). But this fails as Nigel ends up burning the fish he got from the store, but his dad sympathizes and eats it, and to an extent where he enjoys it. But his father suddenly hires a cleaner, Mrs Potter to do the chores around the house, but this leads to his father getting seduced by the slutty maid and she starts spending a lot of time in the house. Nigel obviously dislikes her as they compete for his father`s attention and praise. This later leads to the Slater family moving to the countryside and Mrs Potter coming and living with them as well. From his teenage years, Nigel starts taking home economics and pursues his love for cooking. One day he brings his father scones and wins the attention of his father, which Mrs Potter despises. Mrs Potter and Nigel continue to battle each other in winning over their father`s attention and praise, but one day his father passes away. He then decides to leave the house even though Mrs Potter pleads him to stay, but he retaliates by saying she wins and he`s done with competing with her. From there, he runs out and goes to a restaurant and starts his new life as a training chef and he never sees Mrs Potter again.
Okay, that was a huge load! I`, sorry for drowning you in the plot! :(
One thing that caught my attention was Nigel`s relationship with his family, mainly his father. They were complete character foils! Nigel wanted healthy homemade meals but his parents only let him have canned meals which are totally unhealthy! It was like Nigel was the parent and his parents were the annoying children who wouldn`t eat anything.
Also the relationship with his father was very interesting for me. At first I couldn`t understand why Nigel wanted to impress his father, because his father was bitter and paid no attention towards his son, and Nigel already knew that. If I were Nigel I would just leave it as it is and not even try to get his attention. But as I watched I soon realized he just wanted to be accepted and loved by his father. And this led to competing against Mrs Potter, in which he surrendered to after his father`s death. This emphasized Nigel`s intentions and goals that were all for his father or it can also be interpreted as his way of expressing love for his father.
Leaving the link to the trailer if anyone is interested! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN0NTfFyFaM
Okay thats it, all I wanted to say was the thing that I couldn`t understand.
SO good bye for now
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