With the days getting longer and lockdown restrictions being relaxed, many of us are anticipating some much needed social interaction. Venturing outdoors, with fresh air in our lungs, feels like an especially great luxury. As we all know, food has always a good way to bring people together and a picnic is the perfect opportunity for which to gather friends and family to share the simple pleasures of eating outdoors, while still being able to stay socially distanced. So before you pack the hamper and tartan ground sheet, here is a feast of filmic al fresco scenes to whet your appetite.
Two middle-aged men, one about to get married, take a week-long journey through California’s wine country.
Alexander Payne’s comedy road movie is a gem, dealing with friendship, disillusionment and regret. Always, though, is its focus on the celebration of fine food and drink.
2. La Gloire de Mon Père (1990)
Set during the end of the nineteenth century a young boy, on holiday with his parents, meets a local boy with whom he becomes firm friends. Together they roam the hills and caves of Provence.
Yves Robert’s adaptation of Marcel Pagnol’s autobiographical novel beautifully captures the lush countryside of southern France, blissful surroundings where you would happily have all mealtimes al fresco.
3. To Catch a Thief (1955)
Under suspicion by the police, a retired jewel thief becomes forced to prove his innocence.
The sparkling sunshine of the French Riviera makes this one of Alfred Hitchcock’s most stylish and glamorous films. Grace Kelly and Cary Grant look immaculate and manage to never spill any food down Edith Head’s fashionable costumes.
4. Countryman (1982)
When a plane crash-lands in Jamaica, the young couple on board are rescued by a fisherman who protects them from the authorities, who have fabricated a story about the accident as part of a scheme to influence an approaching election.
The luxuriant tropical setting is the real star of Dickie Jobson’s adventure movie. The scenes of ital cooking, at its most primitive form, are guaranteed to have you salivating.
5. Sense and Sensibility (1995)
Suddenly finding themselves destitute after the death of their father, the Dashwood sisters are forced to rely on their wits and wiles to seek financial security through marriage.
Ang Lee’s spirited adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic is full of splendid performances. Emma Thompson has never looked so elegant cutting the rind off a cheese.
6. The Hard Way (1991)
A pampered Hollywood actor tags along with a disgruntled hardboiled New York cop, to prepare for an upcoming movie role.
John Badham’s buddy cop movie is a blend of his trademark action and comedy. The friction between the two leads is palpable throughout and the scene where Michael J. Fox tries to copy James Woods eating a ‘frogdog’ is a delight to watch.
7. The Sound of Music (1965)
A nun leaves her convent to become a governess looking after the seven children of a widowed Navy Captain.
Robert Wise’s alpine musical is a pageant of light-hearted froth and fervent cheeriness. The hills are very much alive with the promise of being serenaded by Julie Andrews, while tucking into the picnic hamper.
8. The Birds (1963)
With the arrival of a San Francisco socialite a small American coastal town becomes afflicted by a succession of unexplained bird attacks.
Next time you get annoyed with a seagull making a dive for your chips at the seaside, spare a thought for the poor children at young Veronica Cartwright’s party, who barely get a look in at the outdoor spread before being clawed to shreds. This was Alfred Hitchcock’s third and final adaptation of stories by English author Daphne du Maurier.
9. From Russia With Love (1963)
James Bond is the target of an elaborate assassination plot. With the lure of acquiring a sought after encryption machine he is set-up for a humiliating demise by the enemy organisation SPECTRE.
Terence Young’s second film in the franchise shows Bond enjoying a little downtime between missions. We first encounter him catching up with one of his civilian lovers over lunch on a riverbank.
10. Much Ado About Nothing (1993)
Two young lovers, about to be wed, formulate a plan to trick an arrogant bachelor and his verbal sparring partner into marriage as well.
The opening scene to Kenneth Branagh’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy is a bucolic idyll, filled with merry-making from a congregation with insatiable appetites for life, and food.
Thomas is a musician, writer and film enthusiast with a broad taste in films, from Big Night to The Big Combo. When he isn’t immersed in these activities his passions extend to the kitchen and food.
