SYNOPSIS

In 2009, Michel Bras, at the head of a 3-star restaurant (Michelin guide), in the heart of the Aubrac region, decides to hand over to his son Sébastien.

A father and his son. Both at a crucial time in their careers.

Is it possible to pass on one’s life’s work? Is it so easy for a son to make a name for himself?

This film is the story of a family over three generations, a fine reflection on passing down know-how, on heritage.


FILMMAKER BIO

Paul Lacoste has taught film directing for 15 years at ESAV (Ecole Superieure d’Audiovisuel) in Toulouse. At the same time, he has directed shorts and medium-length works of fiction. In 2010, he wrote a play about religion and family, directed it, and adapted it for the cinema under the title “Les Eaux Fortes”.

As an amateur cook and lifelong fan of Michel Bras’ work, he asked him if he could make a film portrait of his artistic creation when he received his third Michelin star in 1999. This marked the start of a documentary series about 9 major French chefs (“Inventing Cuisine”). In 2010, he approached Michel and Sébastien with the idea of creating a feature-length documentary about the handing- over of the restaurant from father to son. For the movie “Step Up to the Plate”, Paul Lacoste followed them for a year, filming this crucial time in their lives.


FILMOGRAPHY

2011 - Entre les Bras (Step up to the Plate) - Feature-length documentary, 90 min 2010 - Les Eaux fortes - Medium-length fiction, 50 min
2001/2010 - Inventing Cuisine - Documentary series, 9x52 min
2005 - Reportage - Short fiction, 10 min
Festival international du court-métrage de Clermont-Ferrand / In competition
2004 - Je me suis endormi - Short fiction, 5 min Festival Premiers plans d’Angers / In competition
2004 - One Year in the Vineyard - Documentary series, 6x26 min 2003 - L’île au phare - Medium-length fiction, 45 min
Festival Premiers plans d’Angers / In competition
1995 - L’Autre rive - Short fiction, 15 min
Festival international du court-métrage de Clermont-Ferrand / In competition
1991/1996 - Portraits de Résistants - Documentary series of 5x26 min and 1x52 min