LAFeature
Oscar Movie Pairings: Promising Young Woman + Guelaguetza
What to eat while watching Emerald Fennel’s candy-colored revenge fantasy.
photo credit: Promising Young Woman
In Theaters
When it comes to finding food to pair with Promising Young Woman, you’ll want something that makes you feel alive, invigorated, and honestly a little fired up to match the energy of Emerald Fennel’s candy-colored rape-revenge fantasy. Place an order at Guelaguetza. Although the Koreatown staple’s dining room is still closed for the time being (they’re only available for patio seating), picking up one of their family-style tasting platters smothered in mole can just about recreate the high you’d be feeling after being serenaded by their in-house mariachi band on a Friday night. Plus, with platters like the Botana Oaxaqueña, which comes with five different meats, Oaxacan cheese, guacamole, and nopalitos, and serves up to eight people - you’ll have just enough food to feed a small crew, which, in my opinion, is the only correct way to consume this movie. Because although there are some structural (as well as ethical) issues raised in Promising Young Woman, what was most valuable to me were the conversations I had afterwards, about everything from Fennel’s casting choices, to the nature of consent, to what exactly is the correct course of action after an assault, especially in a world where attackers are rarely sentenced (only 4.6% of rapists are incarcerated). It’s a lot to think about, and you’re definitely going to want some excellent chile rellenos or mole negro to tide you over.
photo credit: Jakob Layman
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