The Golden Spurtle

Constantine Costi United Kingdom, Australia 75 min.

it’s all about porridge in the Scottish village of Carrbridge, where contestants from around the world gather each year for the World Porridge Making Championship. For over thirty years, devoted oat enthusiasts have competed for the coveted Golden Spurtle, the ultimate prize in this celebration of humble oats. A heartwarming tribute to the village’s warm and endearing residents and participants — each delightfully eccentric, unflappable, and blessed with a wonderfully dry sense of humor.

A heartwarming delight of a film set in a tiny village in the heart of the Scottish Highlands during what may well be the most important moment of the year for its inhabitants. Since the Stone Age, few culinary traditions have endured as steadfastly as a nourishing bowl of porridge in the morning: this World Championship celebrates the oldest recipe in the world.

With a generous dose of Scottish self-irony, the Australian director and cinematographer create a playful, nostalgic atmosphere in a world that feels straight out of a Wes Anderson film. A documentary that teaches you that getting your porridge just right is harder than nuclear physics—and that you must always stir clockwise, or else…! Above all, it leaves you, even if you are not a fan of porridge, with a wonderfully warm and blissful feeling as you exit the cinema. A small wonder of a film.