''The Delicacy'' is a 2020

documentary film A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

about

sea urchin Sea urchins or urchins () are echinoderms in the class (biology), class Echinoidea. About 950 species live on the seabed, inhabiting all oceans and depth zones from the intertidal zone to deep seas of . They typically have a globular body cove ...

s and the divers who harvest them off the coast of

Santa Barbara, California Santa Barbara (, meaning ) is a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, California, of which it is also the county seat. Situated on a south-facing section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States excepting A ...

in the US. The film, directed by Jason Wise, premiered at the

Santa Barbara International Film Festival The Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF) is an eleven-day film festival held in Santa Barbara, California in February annually, since 1986. The festival screens over 200 feature films and shorts from different countries and regions. ...

in January 2020. The film premiered worldwide on May 20, 2020 on SOMM TV.

Synopsis

''The Delicacy'' follows several sea urchin divers as they engage in their dangerous vocation off the coast of Santa Barbara.

Cast

This film focuses on Santa Barbara sea urchin divers including Stephanie Mutz, Harry Liquornik, Jim Marshall, Wade Motyer, and Billy Eggers. Notable chefs also make appearances including

Andrew Zimmern Andrew Scott Zimmern (born July 4, 1961) is an American chef, restaurateur, television and radio personality, director, producer, businessman, food critic, and author. Zimmern is the co-creator, host, and consulting producer of the Travel Channe ...

, Ray Isle, Justin Cogley, Kyle Connaughton, and Master Sommelier Yoon Ha.

Reception

The film received positive reviews with Josh Board of Fox 5 San Diego giving the film 3.5 out of 5 stars and writing, ''"Yet even if you aren't going to ever try this, the documentary is fascinating to watch" and, "3 ½ stars out of 5 (if these were Michelin stars given to a restaurant, that would make this the Citizen Kane of documentaries)."''

LA Weekly ''LA Weekly'' is a free weekly alternative newspaper in Los Angeles, California. The paper covers music, arts, film, theater, culture, and other local news in the Los Angeles area. ''LA Weekly'' was founded in 1978 by Jay Levin (among others), ...

called it, "a mouthwatering excursion featuring California's uni divers and the chefs who sing their praises," Hollywood Outbreak said, "If you thought a documentary about sea urchins would be boring, think again." and

Larry Mantle Larry Mantle is an American radio talk show host and journalist on the Southern California NPR station, LAist (formerly KPCC). Mantle hosts ''AirTalk with Larry Mantle'', which is the longest running daily talk show currently on Los Angeles r ...

on KPCC called it "a must see."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Delicacy American documentary films Documentary films about food and drink 2020 documentary films 2020 films 2020s American films