Story: A cultural icon that has influenced generations, Julia Child blended a love for food and a larger than life personality to build a culinary empire. She would write books and host television shows, inspiring countless home cooks and of course, a wealth of other chefs that raced to follow in her footsteps. In Julia, we have a documentary that takes us on a tour of not only her illustrious careers, but also her personal life, letting us get a glimpse inside the world of a true icon.

Entertainment Value: A loving, respectful tribute to a one of a kind person, Julia is a treat to watch and a true celebration of Julia Child and her unique life. The tone here is upbeat and brisk, with an emphasis on the positives, though her life on the whole is explored. Even so, if you’re after an expose or a tabloid take, this documentary won’t serve that need, as this is more of an informative tribute. I appreciated the time taken on her personal life, as I learned so much about her here. While she was best known for her books and television shows, Child didn’t find fame until she was around 50, so there was a lot of life to explore before that point. I wouldn’t have minded a deeper dive, but with limited time, I think the filmmakers did quite well.

I would have loved more depth in some segments however, simply because Julia is such an interesting and complex person, I always wanted to know more. This is especially true of her life before fame, since that isn’t given a wealth of time. Even so, I appreciated what the filmmakers were able to share about her earlier life and as expected, that information only made her more endearing. I also liked that her relationship with PBS wasn’t idealized, instead we’re told the behind the scenes drama that cropped up, such as the station wanting her to retire long before she was prepared to do so. In general, the interviews here are well edited and curated, giving us a good selection of perspectives and participants. The pace is brisk, as I mentioned before and to me, the time really flew by, so again, I would have loved even more depth. Julia was a delightful, super enjoyable documentary that serves up a fitting tribute to an absolute icon and of course, is highly recommended.

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