The Truffle Hunters

The Truffle Hunters

Release Date

2021

Director

  • Michael Dweck
  • Gregory Kershaw

Cast

  • Piero Botto
  • Sergio Cauda
  • Maria Cicciù

Deep in the forests of Piedmont, Italy, a handful of men, seventy or eighty years old, hunt for the rare and expensive white Alba truffle—which to date has resisted all of modern science's efforts at cultivation.

    These truffle hunters are guided by a secret culture and training passed down through generations, as well as by the noses of their cherished and expertly-trained dogs. They live a simpler, slower way of life, in harmony with their loyal animals and their picture-perfect land, seemingly straight out of a fairy tale. They're untethered to cell phone screens or the Internet, opting instead to make their food and drink by hand and prioritizing in-person connections and community.

    The demand for white truffles increases year after year, even as the supply decreases. As a result of climate change, deforestation, and the lack of young people taking up the mantle, the truffle hunters' secrets are more coveted than ever. However, as it soon becomes clear, these ageing men may just hold something much more valuable than even this prized delicacy: the secret to a rich and meaningful life.

    Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Classics

    Past Programs

    2022

    Don't trifle with truffles!

    Athens Ciné, Athens, GA

    Look down: the wonders of mushrooms

    Rosendale Theatre Collective, Rosendale, NY