Ratatouille

For a cartoon, Ratatouille sure does a good job of hitting important issues: it deals with what it is that makes us human, the nature of democracy, the role of the family, the role of the critic, and what it means to be part of a tradition. If only it had considered feminism...

On the topic of what makes us human, it shows us that it is what we do that is not limited to utility that "separates us from the animals"--and in particular, eating well and enjoying food. The rat objects when the other rats are concerned (in a Hobbesian fashion) with only avoiding death and not with living well.



The whole idea that the famous cook in the movie advocates--that anyone can cook--is a democratic, or at least meritocratic, idea, that stands against aristocratic ideals. In the end, I guess we see the democratic element undermined and the meritocratic one emphasized with the poor garbage boy who really can't cook.



This relates to the films treatment of tradition. Colette tells the boy she is teaching (and later falls in love with--maybe the real feminist element is here...) that cooking is all about innovation, and yet only the famous cook can innovate--the others must simply follow his innovations and the recipe. When this is put into practice and the boy is asked to follow a recipe of the great cook's that isn't good (an example of the stagnation of tradition and refusal to allow it to develop), he is only saved from disaster by a bit of innovation by the rat at the last moment. So we see the necessity of drawing on others in adapting and reforming the tradition.



Related to the notion of tradition is the critic. The critic is portrayed in a negative manner throughout the movie--he is a heartless man who doesn't create, but only critiques (I have a much higher view of the critic, myself). In the end, the critic is redeemed and becomes an artist/entrepreneur rather than a critic. I'm a bit uncomfortable with this ending, for who is to judge between the garbage boy who can't cook and the rat who can? It shouldn't just be the market and money judging, rather, there is certainly a place for the well-cultivated person who can distinguish between good and bad in all areas, including with cooking. Just always say my food is good.