Food of Love is a Spanish-American drama directed by Ventura Pons, based on the 1998 novel The Page Turner by David Leavitt. The film intricately explores themes of love, sexuality, ambition, and emotional vulnerability against the backdrop of the classical music world. It offers a layered examination of relationships and identity, with an intimate focus on its three central characters.
Paul Porterfield (Kevin Bishop) is a shy, talented, and ambitious young pianist who dreams of making it in the highly competitive world of classical music. His journey begins when he secures a prestigious job as a page-turner for his idol, the renowned concert pianist Richard Kennington (Paul Rhys). Paul is awestruck by Richard’s charisma and talent, which sets the stage for an emotional and transformative encounter.
During a performance in San Francisco, Paul proves himself indispensable to Richard. Soon after, they reconnect in Barcelona, where Paul has traveled with his vivacious but overbearing mother, Pamela (Juliet Stevenson). In the romantic setting of Spain, Paul and Richard embark on a brief but passionate affair, filled with desire, confusion, and unspoken tensions. For Paul, it is his first experience of love and intimacy, while for Richard, the relationship is fleeting and complicated by the differences in their ages, expectations, and life experiences.
Pamela, who is eager to connect with anyone who can help her son achieve success, is unwittingly drawn into the complex relationship between Paul and Richard. Her interactions with Richard reveal her own vulnerabilities and unfulfilled desires. She becomes a central, albeit unwelcome, figure in their story as her growing admiration for Richard blinds her to the delicate nature of his bond with Paul.
The film progresses as Paul’s naivety clashes with the realities of adulthood and the limitations of love. He struggles to reconcile his idealistic views of romance with the painful complexities of his relationship with Richard. Pamela, meanwhile, begins to face the consequences of her