The Truffle Hunters
An affectionate, visually sumptuous documentary about elderly Piedmontese truffle hunters, their devoted dogs, and a secretive tradition caught between nature and luxury commerce.
Overview
A journey into the hidden world of truffle hunting reveals the delicate balance between nature and greed.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- warm
- whimsical
- lazy afternoon
- food focused viewing
What critics said
Critics broadly found the documentary charming, visually beautiful, and unusually generous in its portrait of an obscure world and its guardians.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The filmmakers closely observe elderly hunters, their dogs, nighttime searches, and the truffle marketplace without relying on conventional exposition.
The hunters' secretive forest ritual is presented as a precarious practice pressured by greed, intermediaries, and outside influences.
The white Alba truffle is traced from dark forest soil through global luxury commerce to the pristine restaurant plate.
The silver-haired hunters are characterized through devilish humor, walking-stick expeditions, secrecy, and deep practical expertise.
Films like The Truffle Hunters, and why
Honeyland
observational documentary filmmaking, intimate portraiture, and attention to disappearing rural traditions
The Biggest Little Farm
warm, visually attentive documentary portrait of eccentric outsiders and their relationship with the natural world
Faces Places
quietly comic observational style, strong sense of place, and fascination with specialized human communities
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
immersive nonfiction portraiture centered on food culture, craft, and the tensions between tradition and commerce
Movie Details
- Directors
- Michael Dweck, Gregory Kershaw
- Release Date
- 2020-12-25
- Runtime
- 84 min
- Rating
- 7.5 / 10 (49)
Cast
- Carlo Gonella
- Sergio Cauda
- Aurelio Conterno
- Angelo Gagliardi
- Maria Cicciù
- Gianfranco Curti
- Paolo Stacchini
- Piero Botto
- Egidio Gagliardi
- Birba
Where to watch in United States
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Truffle Hunters about?
- An affectionate, visually sumptuous documentary about elderly Piedmontese truffle hunters, their devoted dogs, and a secretive tradition caught between nature and luxury commerce.
- What is The Truffle Hunters like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Truffle Hunters as measured, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Truffle Hunters violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Truffle Hunters.
- What did critics think of The Truffle Hunters?
- Critics broadly found the documentary charming, visually beautiful, and unusually generous in its portrait of an obscure world and its guardians.
- Which films are like The Truffle Hunters?
- Films with a similar feel include Honeyland, The Biggest Little Farm, Faces Places, and Jiro Dreams of Sushi.
- How long is The Truffle Hunters?
- The Truffle Hunters runs 84 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Truffle Hunters?
- In United States, The Truffle Hunters is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home.
