Steak (R)evolution

Although finding the most delicious piece of steak could be the dream of many meat lovers, this is a task that not many people have the time or resources to undertake. Thankfully, French producer-director Franck Ribière has set out on this mission and documented his trip around the world in search of the best steak.

Even though Ribière has been a film producer for over a decade now, Steak (R)evolution is his directional debut. As the documentary starts it comes as no surprise that he chose to focus on beef for his very first title; the love for a good steak is something that he grew up with, a traditional meal that has had a huge part in his personal history. Firstly, his family used to raise Charolais cows in France, but it is his own experience with a deliciously prepared piece of meat that brought him to his adventure. After Ribière tried one of the most famous steaks in the world – the porterhouse at Peter Luger in New York – he realised that the way the chef prepares the meat is not the most important part of the cooking process. It is the meat itself that matters the most.

With this thought in mind, Ribière takes the viewer on a trip around the world, exploring restaurants, farms and butcheries in a search for the most delicious steak on offer. Talking to butchers, farmers, cooks, breeders, and even historians, the director aims to evaluate what makes a cut of beef delicious. Along the way he finds out what is the best cut and the perfect way to prepare it, what makes a piece of beef perfect for the grill, and how important fat is to the cooking process. From countries with great traditions in the preparation of a great steak like England, France and Italy, to the biggest beef producers in the world, such as Brazil, Argentina and the USA, Ribière makes sure to cover every aspect that can have influence on the taste of beef.

All in all, Steak (R)evolution is a very informative food documentary that is full of mouth-watering images of juicy steaks, showing the great appreciation that people around the globe have for a great piece of beef. Although the running time could come a bit overwhelming, this is a trip that true meat lovers would not want to miss.

Lyubomira Kirilova

Steak (R)evolution does not have a UK release date yet.

Read more of our reviews and interviews from the festival here.

For further information about Tribeca Film Festival 2015 visit here.

Watch the trailer for Steak (R)evolution here: