Salmon Short Film | A Budding Chef is Pushed to his Limits at a Michelin-starred Restaurant

August, a budding chef, secures a life-changing opportunity at a prestigious Nordic Michelin-starred restaurant. Under the stern mentorship of culinary virtuoso André, he faces relentless challenges, pushing his limits and battling a fear of failure. As he hides missteps, catastrophe looms in this tale of culinary excellence and competition.
A selection of Short of the Week, the web's leading curators of quality short films.
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🔪 Salmon
Dir. Mattis Heurlin
www.repri.se/salmon
Driven by a couple of excellent performances, some kinetic cinematography, an energetic edit and a pulsating, jazz-infused score, the 20-minutes of Salmon is the kind of gripping, immersive filmmaking you just can't take your eyes off. - S/W Curator, Rob Munday
FULL REVIEW: www.shortoftheweek.com/2023/1...
CAST:
August - Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen
André - Kasper Leisner
Rina - Dia Jovanovic
James - Victor Hugo
Ida - Clara Herman
Mathias - Bertram Ask
Chef 1 - Thomas Gotterup Larsen
Chef 2 - Elyas Benaouisse
Chef 3 - Signý Kristinsdóttir
Chef 4 - Josefine Verstegen Holdt
Chef 5 - Roland Volkov
Chef 6 - Kristoffer Bach Lauridsen
Chef 7 - Tobias Gilbert Bjørnbak Vorting
Chef 8 - Mariana Awela
Chef 9 - Thomas Backhausen
Head waiter - Colin Thunderstrike Sutherland
Waiter 1 - Thomas Palmer
Waitress 2 - Celine-Amalie Boesen
Sommelier 1 - Frantz Dupuis
Sommelier 2 - Iara Almeida Hansen
Prep Cook 1 - Marie Kjærulff-Jørgensen
Prep Cook 2 - Amalie Biltoft
Prep Cook 3 - Emma Marie Søgaard
Prep Cook 4 - Isak Friborg
Prep Cook 5 - Magnus Lisbjerg
Prep Cook 6 - Thomas Raben Levetzau
CREW:
A film by Reprise
Director and screenwriter - Mattis Heurlin
Producer - Pelle Axel von Schantz Iversen & Karoline Jørgensen
Director of Photography - Milan Bjørnild
Line Producer - Annika Lassen
Gaffer - Leonardo Bosetti
Best boy - Sebastian Stigsby
1st AC - Oskar Degn Hald & Erik Hertel
2nd AC - Simon Lindskrone
Sound mixer - Andreas Hayden
Boom operator - Thea Nyboe
Set design - Sune Hansen
Set design assistant - Marie Gøtzsche
Costume design - Genevieve Sztuk
Production manager - Ida Østrup
SFX Make-up - Martin Hansen
Gastronomic consultant - Bertram Ask & Anders Damgaard
Editors - Mattis Heurlin & Milan Bjørnild
Colorist - Milan Bjørnild
Sound designer - Andreas Hayden
Effects editor - Thea Nyboe
Orginal music - Eigil Pock-Steen Jørgensen
Licensed Music - Upright Music
Funds
Nordisk Film Fonden
Dansk Skuespillerforbund
Producent Rettigheder Danmark
Special thanks to
ÅBEN / Danish Craft Brewery
Copenhagen Hospitality College
Super8
Upright Music
Holy Ravioli
Timm Vladimir Kitchen
Only Rental
Trust Rental
Catering 4U
Kasper Møller Rask
Mikkel Bak Sørensen
Jasmin Falk
Reproduced on this channel with the permission of the filmmakers.

[@AllenLutchman]

when you mix ''the bear'' and ''whiplash'' - loved this

[@saramandu]

I agree!

[@TwinzLP]

very true

[@JolGameplay]

That was my first thought!

[@alexlazzerly3677]

Pretty sure that's just the Bear

[@yourmomgay3873]

go watch burnt

[@eddiekane1202]

I’ve worked in high end dining definitely not Michelin level but damn did this bring back some memories. Trying to figure something out and the ability to make it happen under high stress is something about the industry that I will always miss. Being underpaid and having no personal life will be the reason I will never go back.

[@kenfern2259]

thats why after the pandemic , alot of restaurant workers left for good knowing how toxic no personal life and underpaid it was . One of my friends started working in Michelin , i fear that I would never seen him again , but he gets 2 days off fortunately .

[@hughgrection5674]

Having worked in the industry at a high level for many years, I can’t begin to tell you how deadly accurate the emotion in this film is 👍 bloody exceptional short, well done 👏

[@granola2227]

what kind of "industry" do you work in bro lmao

[@hughgrection5674]

@@granola2227 Hospitality. Obviously.

[@Peakfer]

Do you still work within this industry? If so, how do you manage these problems with seemingly no solution from a slip-up?

[@hughgrection5674]

@@Peakfer I left quality restaurants 10 years ago, I now work in private education. Never seen such an extreme scenario as this one to be honest, but totally understand how tension ratchets up from kitchen issues! You always find a way if you know the basics 🤔

[@xieamber478]

love how this film captures how chefs deal with bad cuts in real life. literally paper towel+tape it tightly and then a glove. worry about it later service now. another example of how real this is. well done!

[@benjaminmayanja7452]

The stakes are so fucking high, had me on the edge of my seat

[@shortoftheweek]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@Peakfer]

@@shortoftheweekwill there be any continuation or other films similar to this? (AKA stressful films) thank you, and good work as always !

[@rerikm]

the chef boss didn't taste the new recipe before sending it to the customer. Big mistake

[@anmolagrawal5358]

lol

[@excocinero]

i was looking for this comment, this will never happend in real life, at least not without a third dish for the chef to taste. Too many years working in fine dinnig

[@adamg.manning6088]

It’s called irony. It’s also meant to show how the Chef had his own mini arc during the final segment, slowly realising that others can be as gifted him, if given the opportunity.

[@jorged8050]

@@adamg.manning6088no irony would have been possible if he had tasted one before sending it out, or maybe he had that plan all along??? Non the less, he himself is foolish for not tasting it before sending it out. Words basically from him

[@tenacioussoul3794]

Exactly what I noticed too 😂

[@javier2720]

In my 20's I worked in multiple restaurants, after working multiple positions one day the manager told me that the dishwasher was absent and if I could help out taking that position for the day. I said sure I know how to wash dishes and when did it happening was I realized I was incredibly good at washing dishes and everybody noticed they would notice how clean I keep my area as dish tubs would come in the door making their mess of leftovers everywhere I was quick with the hose quick with the sponge just quick with it all by nature after today's manager told me that if I would like to stay there I said no" thank you 15 sister and she's like my work there so much that she offered to pay me a certain amount higher than most employees just as long as I didn't tell anybody I chuckled at that I said all right and what ended up happening was I found peace back there found peace in the back working alone as a dishwasher and I feel that that was the beginning of my my comfortability with lonesome...

[@davidtam1518]

Hah! I resonate with this so much. I was also a dishwasher at a restaurant when I was 15 and everyone loved it when I worked because of my tidiness.

[@jstackz1113]

can you use a fucking period dude

[@jordanclayton2435]

I’ve worked with two chefs who earned the stars, there’s one who you didnt want to let down… and there was one who you was scared of messing up through fear. I know who my personal mentor was but both taught me lessons In the end

[@zachariaswilliams1770]

the gaslighting by head chef was insane 😭

[@danialtello91]

fucking surreal. mindfucked 🤣

[@MarcusVinicius-we2pg]

I had the experience of work in fancy restaurant for 8 years in Boca Raton/FL as a server. I remember the pressure! Doesn't matter your position .....always painfull!!

[@Henri377]

Riveting short, everything, blown away

[@LaLA441000]

Why anyone would want to subject themselves to this kind of torture and utter humiliation is beyond me!! Life's too short.

[@kirozxd]

Because of the reward that you get from the plate that you make and someone validates it

[@carlworrall]

Perfection, why would they settle for anything less

[@nonofogaborone6640]

It's not always this bad, trust me! People do other equally stressful jobs

[@apollocobain8363]

This crap has been glorified and fetishized by Gordon Ramsay and other TV peeps for 20 years now. It makes for dramatic TV but it is illegal IRL, at least in the USA. Eric Ripert and others have called it out: >Smart chef lead kitchen by sharing, teaching, inspiring with respect. Not insulting, abusing,humiliating their team... Nothing personal against Gordon Ramsay but he is a poor inspiration for professional chefs in his shows. Who perform better scared,insulted? ... I have my bad days to but always try to improve. TV or not it is no excuse! < The energy of the kitchen goes right out to the dining room. It is a myth that the kitchen can be "hell" and the dining room heaven. It's one world. Perfection is achieved through solid methods and repetition -- not fear and abuse. Michelin is a scam and should be stopped.

[@ender1151]

Its an art

[@tauhid9983]

the guy failed to take responsibility for his mistake and somehow magically spurts out culinary genius and saves the day... what a beautiful payoff 💀

[@lawrenceragnarok1186]

That's not beautiful lol

[@tauhid9983]

@@lawrenceragnarok1186 I was being sarcastic.. my guy

[@frostbite4954]

Creativity can sprout in a second. He improved and moved on from his mistakes.

[@peterchui1964]

@@tauhid9983 what matters for him is that he saved his career. For a lot of people that’s all that matters. Being good and honest is not a requirement for success.

[@tauhid9983]

@@peterchui1964 that’s a fair point… but it’s not quite a good message for the filmmakers to share. To make us the audience feel sympathy and champion the main character. When we shouldn’t!

[@MystearicaClaws]

Ok I hate kitchens so much because of the abusive nature but let me tell you I was HOOKED. Between the multiple languages spoken, the the drama like wow. But also poor James! 😂😂😂 he got so much crap!

[@yawarakai3003]

Really depends where you work, i worked few places with the best positive people I’ve ever met

[@ScottAdamLancaster]

Having worked in a few 3 Michelin starred kitchens, I can confirm that situations like this happen pretty much every week (at least once).

[@F1derful.]

So people drop a tray of salmon every week?

[@ScottAdamLancaster]

@@F1derful. Or something similar... Pretty much every day.

[@shortoftheweek]

Is it just as tense as this?

[@ScottAdamLancaster]

@@shortoftheweek sometimes. on occasion. 80% of the time everything run smooth. But when shit hits the fan, it can get very very tense and a lot of shouting. Just depends on the head chefs mood

[@lannisterlodbrok]

Do you still work in the industry?

[@freakeystyley7348]

Jannik Sinner is so good with his hands

[@anmolagrawal5358]

Damn, the more I watch these the more I realize how accurate Food Wars! was with its portrayal. Soma's stagiare in Shinomiya's kitchen matches this a lot

[@edwardchau5818]

The one major flaw in this is that the head chef never tasted the dish at the end.

[@misterkevinoh]

This is bar none, the best kitchen film I've ever seen. Chef, Burnt, The Bear, none of them truly capture what it's like to work the line in fine-dining, but here we capture it all. Bravo, truly.

[@anmolagrawal5358]

the cinematography looks really beautiful in here

[@selinark9754]

Lucas Lynggaard Tønnesen (August) is a great actor and I want the world to know more about him! Seeing his face more on TV shows and movies would be perfect! Plus, he has this Danish 'Tom Hiddleston' vibes ( esp. 18.30 - 18.33) Anyway, I liked the tension! Good job! :)

[@supisspace]

Correct me if I’m wrong but is he the same guy as the main character of the rain?

[@selinark9754]

@@supisspace yes, he is! :)

[@Hollowbarista]

Oh My god this is so real!

[@RutmansProductie]

The actor playing the head chef fucking killed it. Genuinely terrifying and maniacal

[@assadnasralla8539]

Incredible how amazing this was. I could watch an entire series of this. Brilliant!

[@aplooza]

the reality is, michelin starred restaurant chef had to face such pressure in their everyday life. Respect to alla chefs

[@wcarp4231]

My blood pressure was pulsing by the end.. Excellent film!

[@ethanmccarty3293]

as someone that was chef de partie at Noma and sous chef at blue hill stone barns. this gave me so much anxiety which shows how real it is. bravo

[@shortoftheweek]

Can't decide if it's good or worrying to hear it's so authentic. We hope the anxiety is ok now!

[@ethanmccarty3293]

@@shortoftheweek im a pilot now in the airlines. its a different kind of stress but definitely more maintainable

[@theosol1]

@@ethanmccarty3293 😄

[@MurderBong]

Nice, then you may know of a legend i worked for. Hanz Herzig. Makes Ramsay look like a bitch 😅 2 bocouse d’or

[@Romanhy]

How did you get to work at noma?

[@xionkale3688]

i work at a fast food resturant, this had my chest pounding...

[@surfagal7584]

Fricken brilliant. Was hooked till the end. Well done!!

[@giacomocrudo75]

This short film is a masterpiece!

[@jjbinderr]

There is less stress if you watch the great British baking show.

[@LKO-Ekawami]

Wow! Great, had me on the edge of my seat!!

[@ChopndropLLC]

Oh how lucrative betrayal can be in the kitchen

[@ao4800]

Such an outstanding short!

[@KK-zn8gu]

Everyone works in the kitchen are so good looking. Is that another requirement other than cooking skills to work in a fine restaurant?

[@Alexis-wx1lf]

yes

[@bogdanavovk9194]

As a person who works in the industry, I would NOT have this. Unless we’re filming Kitchen Nightmares, you have absolutely no business talking to me like that. Knives would’ve been thrown.

[@Whitefang501st]

Reminding me of whiplash with the tension.

[@ndunamaduna]

Spot on.

[@leechrec]

You'd think they were doctors out there saving patients' lives. XD

[@Fulexn]

I will tell my kids that this is Jannik Sinner before he became a grand slam champion!

[@joetaylor2461]

I almost had to turn this off when chef asked wtf is this salmon, my heart was jumping through my chest like it was me.

[@shortoftheweek]

It really is a tense watch, isn't it!

[@joetaylor2461]

@@shortoftheweek just told my cooks about it, if you have ever worked in kitchen especially fine dining this short film makes it seem like it you behind the line

[@sarahschickerling6811]

I've worked in kitchens like this.. this brought me straight back to those days

[@Quarrelstick]

What an exceptional short. Deadly accurate, beautiful cinematography and acting performances. This NAILED it.

[@expendabledg]

Qué belleza. Y qué complejas las interrelaciones personales. Es un desafío para NO ponerse en el lugar de juez de las acciones de otros.

[@r.a.mpictures]

This is so masterfully crafted, wow!!!

[@jassykat]

20:48 I can't tell if he's telling him those words to test his commitment, or does he really want him out of the kitchen?

[@anmolagrawal5358]

Nah at this point I am pretty sure he means it. August was a liar but clever enough to understand that the head chef is frustrated because of his reputation and stakes involved. So at that moment, a fix is what he needs. Despite what he says out of anger, he gets right to work and focuses on solving the issue instead. When you know where someone's issue arises from, instead of dealing with the frontend, go straight to the backend, resolve it and the frontend would reflect that change

[@gogo4629]

This Short Film ist GREAT they capptured the emotions,the hierarchy and everything perfectly wow....just wow

[@BGGameplayer]

I used to work at a cruise ship five star dinning and I went trough all this bullshit I wish nobody to be at this situation,

[@jasonweir1989]

I loved it up until the blonde chef just pulled the mackerel dish out his arse. he was told to get out on multiple occasions and I don't know a single chef who would just watch him continuing to prep the mackerel dish after saying that. It's one thing to lie and throw another chef under the bus but to get away with defying the Head chefs orders and some how win him over ain't going to happen. Apart from that it was brilliant.

[@denyagusman155]

oooowhhh sooo goood!

[@nuascannan]

Wow, the guy with the beard is quite intimidating 😅

[@radiantsacredschool]

slick. well done !

[@AutoFOCUSED.]

I'm sure there's plenty of comments like this but this reminds me of "The Bear" so much.

[@gunghovagabond]

Outstanding

[@GhilenPeek]

Subscribed. That was really intense

[@Thepsychedelicverses]

A minute in and I had to stop. I hate working in a kitchen now😂😂😂

[@pablors33]

Loved it !

[@rstomahawkty]

this was awesome

[@mohammedhossain1413]

Every country should make a rule that you have to work in the service industry as soon as you turn 18. It will humble everyone.

[@Shooha_Babe]

Yeah, controlled, gas-lighted, and micro managed by Narcissists in power. Great way to teach younger generations! (Sarcasm) That's not being humbled, maybe learn the definition of that word again and come back with a more intelligent comment.

[@dawang461]

Amazing!

[@mejdan7827]

amazing!

[@BenElliot-ce9rd]

waaaaaaaw that was nuts##### what i screamed out hectic guess only chefs willl know30 years ago hecticcc

[@jeremycochard9387]

Incredible ! I really enjoyed it, a nice twist inspired by Whiplash

[@tyasteele]

That was absolutely amazing work. The directing, storyline, props, acting, everything. Kudos

[@miriambellas]

Im half way and man this kitchen is hell food is pain and stress flavor 😅

[@alexnderpharaoh]

I'm telling chef Gordon you dropped the salmon my guy

[@ecwwwrasslin7663]

absolutely intense nice

[@cordrellcolbert4550]

loved every aspect of the film hate that the only poc in the film had to be the fall guy

[@toksybisbig]

Beautiful

[@PCDisciple]

Had me on the edge of my proverbial seat fr. Fantastic short film

[@davidholiday4494]

wonderful

[@tonickmoss]

Beautifully done! that was intense!

[@rickosanti6039]

Me encanta esto de la cocina

[@samuelenocentini_]

Fantastic short, was glued to the screen ❤

[@jolantaziliene1228]

I will never eat in restaurants where there is gaslighting, bad energy

[@jonnyanderson2271]

Knowledge is power

[@MrGillani7]

amazing

[@marcosferreia]

Nice!

[@richieh2006]

That head chef kinda looks like Gareth Southgate 😂👌🏻

[@shortoftheweek]

Not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing?

[@richieh2006]

@@shortoftheweek Haha neither. Just an observation. Google Gareth Southgate (England’s former football manager). You may think he looks nothing like him. Great film, by the way. I enjoyed this one 😬🐟🔪

[@panagiotiskavarnos4998]

iam very happy i change job after many years on this industry.

[@moon12349100]

11:00 that was actually a cool scene,he made his point of utter focus in two ways 1. he dropped the plate to distract him by shock 2. he ordered him to pick the plate up by his authority both where the same mistakes, nothing stands above a perfect dish, not even the chef himself quite deep

[@njrom2975]

The chef was so mean why distract him when he is already behind ? He is so egotistical. He could have helped it’s what a leader is for . Not being the morale down

[@angelinataylor6424]

insanely good!!!!

[@deepbluebeer]

i didnt notice how i stopped breathing for several minutes cause of the amount of pressure

[@shortoftheweek]

Please remember to breathe 🙏🏼

[@OnenessVoices]

Never! Never like this (22:00) possible on a REAL kitchen!

[@Melcor2304]

22:34 the fact that the chef was shocked by the customer's implied validation showed the young chef he has a future in cooking.

[@robinboutard6633]

I am against this management, there is no point in humiliating people! This job is difficult and complex enough to make it rotten! As a boss myself, I don't need to bully my employees to make them respect me!

[@shortoftheweek]

We couldn't agree more, our employees are what make S/W so great! I should know...I'm one of them 🤣

[@robinboutard6633]

@@shortoftheweek yes true

[@lomomomomomomoo]

wp Nice project. Loves from turkey

[@intheknow129]

This looks like a fun kitchen to work in!

[@LaLA441000]

Lol

[@Boss-korpus]

Работаю на кухне 15 лет и могу с уверенностью сказать- что повар это самая тупая профессия, особенно в ресторанах и слушать шефов. Что бы это было так, а это так. Запомните, это просто еда и продукты, а не произведение искусства 😅😅😅 И наконец-то, я мен профессию

[@raymondwatkins5256]

That first minute is brutal. Clearly he's supposed to be an experienced cook, fish butchery isn't something that left to a new person. He also didnt wrap it like he was an experienced cook, we wrap the whole hotel pan not just the top. I couldnt finihs the rest since its not authentic

[@user-mg2fv2sr6s]

The chef gives all the responsability a New one boy? ... the question is the answer?😮

[@danialtello91]

what a fucking experience in life aye. thank god i just got 2 raw fucking egg thrown at me at my chest chef jacket and had a super intense challenge with my chef de cuisine as a chef de partie by peeling 200 eggs for 1 hour if not i would get warning letter lol. chef de cuisine called his wife and complain about the fucking issue in front of the whole fucking kitchen crew. what a fucking coincedence in life aye. i love this type of life lesson. beautiful. hahaha. nice2. c'est la vie mon ami.

[@user-ec3jl2ep6x]

It's Whiplash (2014) + Hunger (2023)

[@shortoftheweek]

Oooh! We weren't aware of Hunger (2023) -- is it good?

[@user-ec3jl2ep6x]

@@shortoftheweek Hi! It also has the same Whiplash tension at the beginning and went a bit dark towards the end. The plot is predictable but nevertheless a decent culinary film.

[@szabolaszlo]

@@shortoftheweekAmazing movie! :)

[@maleekmayers]

@@shortoftheweek Fantastic film! Great storytelling with a wholesome ending. I highly recommend.

[@alexshorttop7730]

@@shortoftheweekhunger is terrible

[@Just_Yaya]

That's the kid from The Rain

[@andyvaldez212]

Rasmus!!!!

[@louisepotier2784]

This is a great short. August, if he's a LEO will be able to take care of himself, no problem. lol. I do not like the kitchen bullying nor the lying and therefore did not fare well in that atmosphere!!!! F*ck you , chef! Which is basically what happened, haha.

[@briangreen1971]

Well he didn’t call James a “shoemaker”😬….yep like a lot of us at times you have to improvise,adapt and overcome , like one saying I’ve learned “some chefs think flavor is 90% presentation”, gotta taste … but James could,ve “ fixed” the issue in the walk in , put that dumped salmon back in the pan pour some marinate from the good one into it , stretch both with water , but the rest of the sh*t show wouldn’t have continued 😂 great film!…

[@slapbgmi]

wow

[@MRCHEFMIKE23]

oh my i see myself in the first 5 minutes ....

[@LongTomProductions]

This is what my ADHD feels like.

[@jalupanomas]

how about his finger? 😢