LAFF 2012: Estomago: A Gastronomic Story (R16)

A cunning man discovers the way to the world`s good graces, is through people`s stomachs in this witty drama by filmmaker Marcos Jorge. Raimundo Nonato (Joao Miguel) is a shabby drifter who wanders into town in need of money and a place to stay. Nonato stumbles upon a cheap diner that`s looking for a cook and he persuades Zulmiro (Zeca Cenovicz), the owner, to give him the job. Zulmiro isn`t willing to give Nonato much more than room and board at first, but the diner`s customers soon discover that the former hobo is good in the kitchen, and his specialties bring a whole new clientele to the place. One of the diner`s new regulars is Giovanni (Carlo Briani), the owner of an upscale Italian restaurant and he lures Nonato away by promising him a high salary to become his new executive chef. For a while Nonato is living the high life until he winds up in prison. Nonato has a hard time behind bars until he starts putting is culinary talents to work, preparing tasty meals for his violent cellmates and uses his cooking to win the friendship of feared enforcer Bujiu (Babu Santana).