71. KINGS OF PASTRY

do you want to be a MOF?  well, these 16 sure do.  Meilleurs Ouvriers de France, the highest honor for patisserie, or pastry.  of over 70 who compete in the semi-finals, only 16 make it to the finals, held every 4 years in lyon, france.  we watch a couple, as they train--pulling sugar, molding chocolate and developing divine pastries in preparation for the 16 individuals tasks the finals require.  under intense pressure and strict time restraints, the chefs must create elaborate and equally delicate creations from the most unforgiving of materials.  sticky sugar and thick chocolate are only a couple of the things that can go wrong.  most formidable is a very long walk each competitor must make with the show pieces, during which other MOFs run interference and all of whom are devastated when something bad happens to a piece.  as with all competition anywhere, it's all about what you bring to gameday.  years of building skills for the competition can be dashed in a second of wrong move.  the competitors are likeable and we meet a couple of them, their family, their friends and their MOF coaches.  we want them to win, and earn the right to wear the red, white and blue striped collar on their pastry jacket.  the final results feel as thrilling as the last minutes of any other competition.  i never knew this award existed, but why shouldn't it?  the creations are amazing and delightful and, i must say, the pastries look so delicious and apparently tast that way too.  the film focuses most on the large creations, but that still leaves at least a dozen other simple pastries to be judged on taste, appearance and creativity.  every move is judged from start to finish.  the pressure is intense.  as with any similar situation, some succeed and many fail.