Somm

Articulate, Intelligent, and Funny People
This engaging documentary follows six fellows who are prepping for the prestigious Master Sommelier exam. Less than 200 candidates have passed this test since it began in 1969; it has one of the lowest pass rates of any exam in the world.

Our 2013 Seattle International Film Festival screening audience was interested, entertained and invested in the outcome. We each had our personal favorites and were appropriately anxious as the test day neared.

Award-winning Director Jason Wise has accumulated wonderful interviews with articulate, funny, intelligent (and ambitious!) candidates. Many of them have photographic memories and when you learn all the minutiae that they must master, it would seem that ONLY candidates with photographic memories could compete! The scope of their education (and those flash-cards) is mind-boggling.

It's fun to get acquainted with the candidates, their wives and girlfriends, other Master Sommeliers, and interested professionals...
A movie about the hardest test in the world...
This is a spectacular, gorgeous, riveting documentary about a group of young wine obessionists preparing to attempt a test with a 90%+ fail rate - and which if passed, confers upon the recipient the internationally known and respected title of Master Sommelier.

The human toll on the test-takers, their family and friends, and their stability and sanity is explored. The beauty of the world of wine is magnificently rendered. And the constant, grinding pressure of being asked to memorize the full measure of human knowledge about wine? Well, that's a constant throughout the movie.

You'll enjoy the characters, feel their stress for them, and bite your fingernails. (Fingernails go well with a nice Pinot Grigio, by the way.)

Two thumbs up.
Very good!
Very entertaining, very informative and well edited. I thoroughly enjoyed it and found myself rooting for a few of the characters. I have recently started to enjoy wine and it is amazing to see how deep the subject matter is. I have a new respect for the somms that come to our table.
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