The Truffle Hunters

The white truffle from the forests of northern Italy is coveted by gourmets, restaurateurs, and wealthy people all over the world. In their film, Dweck and Kershaw show both sides of the truffle world: the modest lifestyle of the old men and their dogs, who dig in the earth to find truffles and set off at night so as not to reveal their hiding places. In contrast, there are the dealers, the auctions, an overheated market. Climate change, envy, and criminal competition threaten the ancient tradition of truffle hunting. A melancholic film about aging, the ecosystem, capitalism, and above all, the symbiotic relationship between old men and their dogs. (Maria Marchetta)

Recommended by Avia, Special Programs

A film about old men, their dogs, and very expensive mushrooms, and yet (or perhaps precisely because of this) one of my most surprising cinema experiences. The Truffle Hunters looks like a feature film, but it is a documentary. Precisely observed and so lovingly told that you forget that nothing here is staged. Between picturesque Piedmont, dirty boots, and quiet criticism of capitalism, a slow-paced film unfolds that tells with great wit and attitude about self-will, dignity, and the absurd value of mushrooms.