THE GOLDEN SPURTLE – Who Said Porridge is Bland?

Where do I begin? Ah, the title! I must admit, before watching I had no idea what a spurtle was. An adorable creature came to mind. A quick Google search and seconds later I found out that a spurtle is a traditional Scottish wooden utensil, like a rod or paddle, originally used for stirring porridge to prevent lumps.

THE GOLDEN SPURTLE is the main prize for the World Porridge Making Championship. To be the World Porridge Champion is a highly coveted title among only the finest of porridge cooks and chefs. Once a year, people flock from all over to watch this competition take place in the charming town of Carrbridge, Scotland. As a foodie and cooking documentary lover, this film catapulted its way to the top of my favorites list. The only way I can begin to describe it is to imagine if Wes Anderson directed a documentary about porridge.

There were many bold stylistic choices done by the filmmaker that produced such a wonderful visual feat. For starters, the 4:3 aspect ratio was a brilliant decision in giving it a nostalgic, yet unusual feel compared to the widescreen formats audiences see these days. That classic look felt very befitting of such a traditional dish. The mise en scène in each frame was meticulously planned. The centered and well-balanced symmetrical compositions for the interviews amplified the humor.

The pacing and structure of the film worked well. Just as I thought it was heading in one direction, it would take a delightful, unexpected turn. The film starts with the current Chieftain of THE GOLDEN SPURTLE who is planning on retiring at the end of this year’s competition. From there it would shift to different people depending on the stage of the competition. At times it felt like it would focus solely on that year’s event, but it covered a lot of ground: the championship’s history, the staff, previous winners, and the town itself. The B-roll and interviews were mostly static shots with minimal pans which added to the whimsical atmosphere. The playful score was perfectly chosen and complemented the tone of the film brilliantly.

For a food-centric documentary, they hinted at porridge and discussed it a bit, but not excessively. Honestly, I don’t know how much you can say about porridge or cover it visually. As the cooks in the show explain it, it only consists of water, salt and oats. The true magic is in the preparation. I loved that when discussing the blends of oats and cooking process, it was mostly via the competitors who were mentioning their secret techniques and recipes.

But the real crème de la crème was the character selection. These were amazing personalities who at times felt like scripted caricatures of themselves, but when you see how they engage during the B-roll you realize that’s how they are in real life. The director did a great job conducting the interviews while also blocking them in such stylistic composition. One of my favorite shots was the dishwashing crew all looking through the kitchen window while the head dishwasher was speaking to the camera. I had to stop myself from rewinding that scene and ruining the film’s momentum.

I must admit, I am team cream of wheat but after watching this I might give porridge another go. I highly recommend this film to any food enthusiast, cinephile, or person who believes that porridge is bland.