How to Smell a Rose

Anyone who is enthralled with documentaries about filmmakers will treasure this wonderful late-life profile of Richard “Ricky” Leacock, whose career achievements included camerawork on Robert J. Flaherty's 1948 classic Louisiana Story and who revolutionized nonfiction cinema via portable cameras and synchronized sound recording on the landmark 1960 documentary Primary. Filmmakers Les Blank and Gina Leibrecht visited with Leacock in 2000 at his farm in Normandy, where the legendary cinema artist offered respectful recollections of his cinematic career—most notably, his work with Robert Drew, D.A. Pennebaker, and the Maysles brothers in developing and perfecting the technology and style that helped bring about the similar “direct cinema” and cinema vérité approaches to filmmaking. But Leacock displays an even greater passion when talking about his love of cooking. Indeed, a surprisingly large portion of the film follows Leacock as he shops for fresh vegetables at a local market, cooks for the camera, and shares amusing stories regarding his efforts to prepare various gourmet dishes. Also prominent are scenes of the elderly but still spirited Leacock enjoying the serenity of the French countryside while observing what makes the experience so special. In some ways, How to Smell a Rose is a double send-off of two filmmaking greats: Leacock died in 2011, with Blank passing away two years later. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P. (P. Hall)