Ratatouille (2007), Brad Bird & Jan Pinkava

Ratatouille (2007), Brad Bird & Jan Pinkava

Remy is a French rodent who aspires to be one of the great Parisian chefs, and cooking happens to be a metaphor for the artistic process. Anton Ego is a renowned acerbic critic, who, against all odds, admires Remy’s handiwork (in fact, it brings him back to his childhood). The titular dish that wins him over is actually among the simplest, poorest delicacies. And thus Pixar’s most allegorical story unites artistic aspirations (the artist participates in the act of creation), with humility, judgment, destiny, and childlike wonder.

Nick Alexander