Cook Off

Cook Off is an enchanting and heartwarming movie that was released in 2017, directed by Tomas Brickhill, and led by an enthralling cast, namely Tendaiishe Chitima, the first-ever Zimbabwean actress to feature on Netflix, and Chimwemwe Chipidza. This movie manages to beautifully showcase the realities and simplicity of Zimbabwean life, encouraging audiences to invest in the movie’s charm and rooting for their favourite characters along the way.

The plot centres around Anesu, a single mother who is doing her best to provide for her young son, Tapiwa, and a grandmother who is never short on criticism or opinions. Anesu, played by the strikingly talented Tendaiishe Chitima, is quite well known in her small community for her delicious meals. However, despite the popularity of her food, she does not aim high and is content with her small business of selling food from her outdoor stand. This facet of the story provides the audience with a view of authentic urban Zimbabwean life and a domestic setup where three generations live and coexist together.

Tapiwa, played by the innocent and endearing Eugene Zimbudzi, sees his mother's potential better than she does herself. Upon learning about a cooking competition on a popular television show, Tapiwa takes matters into his own hands and applies on Anesu's behalf, pretending to be her. The show, named "Reality Check", becomes Anesu's unexpected chance to change their lives. As they say, "cooking will set you free," and who knew just how much these words would show her of love, self-discovery, and her dreams?

Anesu's journey, from her simple kitchen stand in the Harare suburbs to the bright lights and fast-paced environment of a bustling television cooking show, is nothing short of transformative. However, like any good story, there are obstacles. Anesu is the only amateur in a competition filled with professional chefs, mirroring the theme of an underdog rising against all odds.

Weaving in the element of romance, Tomas Brickhill introduces Prince, played by Tehn Diamond, who is a past winner of the cooking show. He is ruling the culinary world but is dissatisfied. He searches for something meaningful in his life and continually finds himself drawn to Anesu's genuineness, humility and of course, her irresistible cooking. Their chemistry cannot be denied, and it adds another layer of emotion to the narrative's undertones of ambition and resilience.

Cook Off is as much about food and cooking as it is about relationships, dreams, and finding one's place in the world. It perfectly blends a taste of home with a dash of culture, a sprinkle of love, and a big heaping serving of humour. Cook Off embodies a central theme of realising unforeseen potential in places we often neglect to search—the people we take for granted, the talents left unearthed, and the dreams that seem too far-fetched.

What sets Cook Off apart from other comedy-drama films is its raw and panoramic representation of Zimbabwe. It paints Zimbabwe with a delicate brush, depicting the challenges its people face while highlighting how rich the country is in its culture and spirit. It shows Zimbabwe from a humble and homegrown lens, away from the political and socio-economic discourse that usually surrounds Africa's portrayal.

Cook Off serves a slice of everyday life that anyone can relate to, nicely complemented by sprinkles of quirky humour, straightforward honesty, and relatable struggles. Director Tomas Brickhill has made a sweet, crowd-pleasing, feel-good film that’s ripe with the delicious magic of food, a magical tale of self-discovery, and the search for a sense of belonging.

The heartiness and simplicity of the film make it an easily relatable and touching experience, a delightful treat that capably cooks up laughs and heartwarming moments. Cook Off serves up more than just a cooking competition – it shows life in all its fullness, the push and pull of dreams and reality, the need for love and acceptance, and how sometimes, the main ingredient to live our best life, is simply to have a bit of faith in ourselves.