Toast

10-14 years

TOAST portrays the life of famous cook, food columnist and TV host Nigel Slater who discovers his passion for food and cooking at a very young age. Growing up in a world of tinned food in the 50s it is tough for young Nigel to stick to his passion and get through to his father’s heart.
The film thereby touches on various provocative and significant topics for young teenagers such as: self-assertion and -realisation, family structures and gendered roles in society, prejudice, social exclusion and conflict resolution. It thus proves an excellent resource for the classroom and the workshop will offer room for debate and discussion with the help of several worksheets concerning the topics.

86 minutes, 35mm / DVD

UK, director: SJ Clarkson, 2010, biopic, drama

TOAST tells the story of how the young Nigel falls in love with food as a little boy.

Growing up in a home when everything tinned is best Nigel craves real food. He loves cookbooks and gazes longingly at the delights on display in the village shop. When his mother dies he and his father are heartbroken but time heals and the ample charms and lemon meringue pies of the new cleaner, Mrs Potter, quickly bewitch Nigel’s father. To Nigel’s even greater horror, Mrs Potter moves in and the three move to the country. The only silver lining is the Domestic Science Class in his new school – Nigel can finally shine and when Nigel lands a job in the kitchen of his local pub his eyes are opened to a world of opportunity. But Mrs Potter won’t give up here supremacy in the kitchen without a fight…
Based on the award-winning book by Nigel Slater, a famous cook, food columnist and TV host for food shows.

film website