What the Truffle Hunter Wore to Work
The coveted truffle, a pungent and rarified mystery, is found deep in the forests of northwestern Italy’s Piedmont region. The artisanal delicacy is beloved by chefs worldwide but cannot be cultivated and requires the skills of just a small circle of human and canine experts to unearth. In The Truffle Hunters, directors Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw introduce us to this close-knit group of venerable northern Italian men and their dogs who have a profound impact on the world of food.
These men are experts in their craft and know the area like the backs of their hands, which is why they prefer to hunt nocturnally so that no one else knows where their spots are. In fact, the hunters don’t even talk about their locations amongst themselves for fear of losing their lucrative secret, and they often sell their truffles in the middle of the night at a black market on a secluded street.
Despite the inherent risks of their profession, these old-school truffle hunters love what they do. It is clear that their relationships with their dogs are as strong as their friendships with each other, and the film is full of sweet moments of the pair working together to accomplish their shared goal. Whether they are belting out a tarantella or angrily composing a letter on their typewriter, these men are passionate about their work and their dogs and are dedicated to preserving the legacy of their skill.
