The Truffle HuntersThe Truffle Hunters
(2021)
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The Truffle Hunters

Elderly men in Piedmont, Italy, hunt for rare white truffles with their cherished dogs, while preserving a secret culture and way of life.

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Why watch this film?

Despite the 2020 Toronto Film Festival presenting 'Pieces of a Woman', no production can beat the beauty and delicacy of the documentary 'The Truffle Hunters', which follows the journey of the "truffle hunters" in Italy. After all, directed by Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw, the feature film doesn't have anything special at first. The narrative is conventional and the directors choose to follow these characters from a distance, just as observers on the scene. However, there is so much truth in what is shown in the movie, that it is impossible not to feel like you're on a direct trip to the depths of Italy. The landscapes are beautiful and invade the screen. The characters are charismatic. It seems like a grandfather, an uncle, something like that. And their relationship with the art of hunting truffles in the forests, in addition to the affectionate relationship with the dogs, is moving. In the end, it's hard to notice that the smile is present in almost all 90 minutes of the documentary, which travels between the different types of people related to the collection, sale and tasting of truffles. An art film, which inspires, soothes, moves and makes anyone want to be in an Italian forest looking for truffles in the ground with their dog.

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Plot summary

Deep in the forests of Piedmont, Italy, a handful of men, seventy or eighty years young, hunt for the rare and expensive white Alba truffle—which to date has resisted all of modern science's efforts at cultivation. They're guided by a secret culture and training passed down through generations, as well as by the noses of their cherished and expertly trained dogs. They live a simpler, slower way of life, in harmony with their loyal animals and their picture-perfect land, seemingly straight out of a fairy tale. They're untethered to cell phone screens or the Internet, opting instead to make their food and drink by hand and prioritizing in-person connections and community. The demand for white truffles increases year after year, even as the supply decreases. As a result of climate change, deforestation, and the lack of young people taking up the mantle, the truffle hunters' secrets are more coveted than ever. However, as it soon becomes clear, these ageing men may just hold something much more valuable than even this prized delicacy: the secret to a rich and meaningful life.

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