Julie & Julia

This 2009 film, is about beating the blues of modern life. Julie Powell, is about to turn 30. Her career is based as a temp which she finished doing after six years to become a first level government worker in a cubicle, and her uncompleted novel that no one wants to publish adds a finishing touch to an existence that is very beaten down. The one redeeming factor in her life is her husband, Eric, who she consistently descrbes as a, saint.

Julie doesn't like her career powerhouse girlfriends and her lunch conversations with them are quite painful. They answer their cells and as one friend makes a multi-million dollar real estate deal while keeping Julie from eating breadsticks another makes an interview date with her. The article that comes from it is titled, "Is 30 the New 20?" This brings into question the maturity of our protagonist's overall existence.

She looks for a refuge, a hobby, something outside of the ordinary to make her happy. And she finds Julia Child, the famous cook, whose book of French recipes sold the world over. So Julie embarks on a quest, to finish 524 recipes from the book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, in 365 days. 

One can be uncertain as to the reality, not to mention expense of the actual endeavor itself. As cooking that many recipes in a single year seems impossible due to time limitations alone. But, the blog Julie writes garners public attention, if not the respect of its ultimate host, Julia Child. 

And as Julie goes about her life, the past of the actual Julia and the making of the book comes alive. Her times with her husband in France are among the happiest of her life. And not wanting to be thought of as a frivolous housewife, the 6 foot 2 inch woman, decides to take a professional cooking course. And from there she befriends Simone Beck and Louisette Bertholle. The three friends begin on the odessey of creating one of the most comprehensive cookbooks ever published. The book will eventually come into the hands of a girl not yet born, who will in time be desperately in need of a good friend and guidance. 
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By Sarah Bahl

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