In this blog post, we’ll examine the documentary “The True-Taste Show” to explore the dark side of the “restaurant myth” created by Korean food shows and how it reveals the underlying structures of manipulation and staging.
Why ‘The True-Taste Show’?
For me, the word “documentary” has long evoked the image of a stiff and heavy genre. For quite some time, whenever I thought of “documentaries,” I would immediately associate them with superficial impressions like “boring” or “difficult,” causing me to instinctively take a step back. The only types I felt less averse to were nature documentaries capturing breathtaking scenery I’d likely never see in person, or documentaries shedding light on unfamiliar cultures. However, even those merely meant I didn’t feel repelled; they didn’t lead me to perceive documentaries as “fun.”
There was one film that came as quite a refreshing shock to me, who knew almost nothing about documentaries and was completely wrapped up in my own prejudices. It was Michael Moore’s ‘Roger & Me’.
In any art form, I tend to feel repelled if the social critique is too heavy-handed. Yet while watching ‘Roger & Me’, I found myself chuckling unconsciously, even if only for a brief moment. Despite tackling the weighty theme of “criticizing American capitalism,” humor and jokes were naturally woven throughout the film, and this seamlessly evolved into sharp satire. “Roger & Me” completely shattered my narrow-minded view that documentaries dealing with social issues must necessarily be heavy and dry. That’s why I began thinking I wanted to seek out documentaries with a similar tone, especially Korean ones.
The work that caught my eye at that moment was “The True-Taste Show.” It was a documentary that possessed many of the elements I was looking for. ‘The True-Taste Show,’ which starkly exposes the dark underbelly of Korean terrestrial broadcasting, is a work with a strong journalistic character. However, it is also a documentary rich in charming elements that more than compensate for that starkness.
First and foremost, ‘The True-Taste Show’ unfolds in such an engaging way that you lose track of the runtime. While it appears to be constructed with a simple structure and no special gimmicks, wit and satire are evident throughout. Scenes that make the audience laugh unintentionally—even in situations where laughter seems unlikely—unfold one after another, leaving the impression of watching a black comedy. Had the film merely exposed reality and relied solely on occasional humorous moments, its impact might have ended there. However, the climactic sequence—in which the cast performs a “show,” or rather, a kind of con, that they spent a long time preparing—is truly striking. That sequence alone elevates ‘The True-Taste Show’ beyond a simple social critique documentary, transforming it into a work that poses questions to the audience.
The “taste” this film speaks of is not the “taste” found in typical foodie shows, but rather it touches upon the issue of “truth” in the reality we inhabit. As I reflected on it, the question posed by ‘The True-Taste Show’ at the end seemed to grow in significance, and I even felt a bit of confusion in the face of it. However, that moment of confusion itself felt quite compelling. As I spent time thinking through the answer to that question on my own, I found myself recalling this work again, and ultimately, that experience itself became the force that made me remember ‘The True-Taste Show.’
Summary of “The True-Taste Show” Sequences, Format, and Structure
While “The True-Taste Show” tackles a somewhat radical and serious theme—exposing the dark underbelly of a major broadcast network—it unfolds its narrative in a satirical manner, skillfully blending humor. Given that the subject matter itself deals with the manipulation and distortion of broadcast programs, there are numerous archival clips. Since these clips are all actual scenes from programs that were actually broadcast, they provide even stronger support for the film’s claims. It is also impressive how the film never loses the humor that is a hallmark of “The True-Taste Show,” even utilizing humorous scenes within the archival footage.
Furthermore, interviews—a key element in modern documentary filmmaking—play a significant role in this work. A substantial portion of the interviews take on the nature of testimony, lending as much weight to the film’s arguments as the archival footage does. The narration also contributes greatly to this flow. However, one drawback is that the narration is often presented in a somewhat omniscient manner, making the film’s journalistic nature feel even more pronounced. At times, it even gives the impression of directly explaining, “I am criticizing this issue through this particular aspect.” That aspect felt somewhat disappointing. Perhaps this characteristic stems from its connection to the cinéma vérité approach. Nevertheless, it is clear that “The True-Taste Show” is a compelling documentary that more than compensates for even those elements that might be seen as shortcomings.
As mentioned earlier, the structure and editing style of ‘The True-Taste Show’ are not particularly innovative or groundbreaking. However, the premise—in which the cast members, in turn, trick the production crew—feels very fresh. The various episodes that unfold during this process are also engaging. Above all, the fact that the events they personally experienced are faithfully captured on camera makes the reflective nature of the work stand out even more.
Despite the subject matter, which could easily have become heavy and somber, the bright and upbeat music that flows throughout the film plays a significant role in making ‘The True-Taste Show’ a witty documentary. I believe the ironic use of music, contrasting with the gravity of the actual situations, was particularly effective. While I mentioned earlier that the editing isn’t particularly fresh or original, I also felt that the way scenes are captured without any excess and cut at just the right moments gives the narrative a much-needed sense of pace.
Where is the “taste” of “True”?
Filming is over. “Taste” is closing its doors.
Trash has been lying around for far too long. It’s time to clean up. Come on, let’s clear this out.
On TV, the taste is gone. No, the broadcast is gone.
What you’re seeing isn’t the truth.
Who is this Big Brother forcing “The True-Taste Show” upon us?
― From the film “The True-Taste Show”
What “The True-Taste Show” ultimately seeks throughout its runtime is the whereabouts of “truth.” Of course, this central concern becomes relatively easy to grasp as the film progresses and the numerous scams taking place on broadcast television are revealed one by one. On screen, instances of manipulation and staging repeat almost like a fixed pattern.
It is, quite literally, a parade of formulaic scams. It seems as though lies and truth exist in a clear-cut dichotomy, like black and white.
Ironically, however, this very clarity only serves to obscure the whereabouts of the truth even further. This is because we live in a reality where, even though we know what is right and wrong, and what is true, we cannot easily speak it. Even if someone were to speak out, their voice would likely be quickly trampled upon or buried. Thus, the truth seems to merely float around somewhere, never existing before us in a clear form. Perhaps that is simply the nature of this world. It is a reality where so many things are wrong that it feels overwhelming to even know where to begin fixing them. The name “journalism” is all too easily erased by the logic of visuals and consumption. Faced with this, we naturally feel a sense of helplessness.
In that sense, the narration in the final sequence—“‘Trash’ has been lying around for far too long. It’s time to ‘clean up.’ Come on, ‘let’s clean it up’” is deeply striking. It leaves a much deeper resonance than the phrase “What you see is not the truth,” which, while direct, might sound somewhat clichéd. This line feels like an expression that conveys the message of *The True-Taste Show* in a straightforward yet powerful way.
Ultimately, ‘The True-Taste Show’ poses a question to the audience and leaves the subsequent choice up to our thoughts and actions. In a reality where even truths that seem so obvious slip away every time, what attitude will we adopt moving forward? Will you, too, stand by and watch a world rife with manipulation and deception simply because you are living in an era of endless competition? Or will you try, in whatever way you can, to speak out and take action to “clean up” the “trash”?
That question ultimately comes back to each of us. Will we become yet another “Big Brother” made up of an anonymous crowd, or will we remain those who seek to drive out such a “Big Brother”? The film ends with a question, but precisely because of that question, the story does not end there. Rather, it sparks new thoughts and discussions. In this way, ‘The True-Taste Show’ once again highlights the power of the questions a documentary can pose, leaving the audience with a lasting impression.
