Food Film Analysis: BAPS
Spring 26 semester, I participated in the Survey of Food in Film course. This course was one of my favorite and most challenging courses in my graduate program so far. While the course sounds fun, we do much more than "just watch movies.” We identified the significance of camera angle, lighting, color choices, and location. We were challenged to determine if the films we reviewed were food films or not, and how food is used to drive the themes of the film forward in both scenarios.
For my final project, I chose to review the movie BAPS (Black American Princesses). This 1997 film, written by Troy Byers and directed by Robert Townsend, explores themes of food as a marker of cultural identity, the healing power of soul food, and the correlation between food and class. It can be argued that BAPS is a food film, as it is seen throughout the film and contributes to the magnification of the film’s core themes.
The core of my research and studies is Black foodways, so BAPS was a perfect choice. I also felt that it deserved more respect. It may not be a polished reflection of Black culture for some (side eye to Rotten Tomato’s 16% rating, and stronger side eye to IMDb’s description: “Two tacky homegirls move to L.A. to become dancers…”). Still, it is a reflection of the resilience of Black dreamers. Soul food has long embodied the perseverance and stewardship of Black culture. This is why cultural foods in film and other art forms serve as powerful tools for storytelling.
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