ARD shows "She Chef"

The documentary about top chef Agnes Karrasch, "She Chef", can be seen from 12 September in the ARD Mediathek and on 19 September 2024 at 23:35 on SWR television.

The documentary film "She Chef" accompanies the Austrian world champion chef Agnes Karrasch on her years of training and travelling in three of Europe's most renowned restaurants. Her demand for equal rights and sustainability shakes up the dusty Michelin-starred kitchen. Will the young woman be able to fight for her place in the male-dominated world of Michelin-starred cuisine? "

Top gastronomy - a male domain

"She Chef" is an intimate portrait of the Austrian world champion chef Agnes Karrasch. After completing her training, the 25-year-old embarks on an instructive journey to learn from the best chefs in the world. She works with Joachim Wissler at the Vendôme in Bergisch Gladbach, with Oriol Castro and Eduard Xatruch at Disfrutar in Barcelona and with Poul Andrias Ziska at the Koks restaurant on the Faroe Islands. As different as the personalities and styles of the famous chefs may be, the stars of the scene are all men. Because to this day, top gastronomy is a male domain. And an environment known for toxic working conditions - especially for the few young women.

A look behind the scenes of the star cult

The documentary film tells the story of a young female chef who aspires to the top and is unwilling to accept the patriarchal system in the kitchen. In the process, it becomes clear what young chefs have to put up with in order to fulfil their dream of becoming a top chef. The harsh tone, the downward pressure, structural grievances such as long working hours and few breaks. "She Chef" poses questions about the future of the world of work, the compatibility of family and career and the dreams of the next generation. Along the way, the film introduces us to the sensual beauty of this craft - away from the usual star cult. With Agnes Karrasch, the film also has a self-confident protagonist who knows what she can do and has a great passion for cooking as an art form.

The documentary film by Melanie Liebheit and Gereon Wetzel is a production of HORSE&FRUITS Filmproduktion OG. Distributed by Camino Filmverleih.