Dating back to neolithic times, few culinary traditions have survived as long as the hearty bowl of morning porridge. Despite its simple recipe of oats, salt and water there is a lot that can vary.
Each year the sleepy highland village of Carrbridge awakens with excitement as locals and competitors from around the globe vie for the honour of winning The Golden Spurtle in the World Porridge Making Championships.
For ageing, charismatic, and soon-to-retire protagonist Charlie Miller, this competition means so much more than just a bowl of steaming oats. With ailing health but a responsibility to his fellow porridge committee members, Charlie is on a mission to secure the future of the championships - and his own legacy.
The Garden Cinema View:
An utterly charming documentary that captures something of the low-stakes-high-effort competition of The King of Kong whilst bumping against Christopher Guest’s wonderful mockumentaries, particularly Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show. Behind the oats, The Golden Spurtle is, at heart, a lovely portrait of a Scottish village and its inhabitants which is never patronising, and relishes the idiosyncrasies of small communities.
