Film Reviews

Short Order

• Rating:
• Director: Anthony Byrne
• Starring: Emma de Caunes
• Details: Ireland, Germany, UK, 100 mins, 16s.

Short Order is a tale of several short stories taking place over one night. Fifi Koko (de Caunes), although content to labour in Ishmael's greasy grill bar, is a brilliant chef whose culinary skills are able to induce orgasms in those who sample her food. She is beset by the lecherous Felix (Hurt), who wants her body and her skills in his upmarket kitchen downtown. Catherine (Cosma Shiva Hagen), Fifi's delivery girl, finds herself a guest on a make-believe talk show (run by Paul Kaye), gets her ear bent by a mysterious call girl and gains some wisdom from lonely barfly Marianne (Redgrave). Next door to Ishmael's, Paulo (Rada Sherbediga) suspects that tonight's only customer (food critic Dee) is the infamous bill dodger - an insult to every chef - but Dee only wants to sample the secret special dish that only Paulo has the nerve to cook.
Sex, dark humour and food are the orders of the day in Short Order. Like short stories within short films, there is so much going on, it's hard to keep it all down but writer-director Anthony Byrne confidently keeps it all together. An homage to Hollywood's Technicolor musicals and boasting more 'poster shots' than most contemporary films, Short Order is a beautiful looking film, awash with every colour imaginable. Byrne kicks off with a tasty song and dance number for starters, showcasing the dancing talents and the stunning good looks of his leading lady Emma de Caunes. The rest of the talent pull out all the stops; Redgrave's contemplative performance juxtaposes her heavyweight co-star Hurt's camp delivery, while Dee's subtlety and Sherbediga's theatrics compliment each other perfectly. Tonight's special? A sexy, brilliant debut feature from talented Irish writer director Anthony Byrne.

Review by Gavin Burke