Apple TV's 'seductive' historical drama that lifts lid on 'horrific' side of Napoleon
History enthusiasts, brace yourselves for an upcoming drama on Apple TV+ that's sure to pique your interest.
The latest series dropping on the platform this week spins a captivating yarn of espionage, gastronomy and romance that could potentially be one of Apple's finest productions yet.
Brought to you by acclaimed French filmmaker Martin Bourboulon, the mastermind behind the recent blockbuster adaptation of The Three Musketeers featuring Eva Green, Carême is the riveting true tale of the world's first celebrity chef.
Benjamin Voisin takes centre stage as Antonin Carême, a culinary prodigy who rose from rags to riches, cooking up a storm for high-profile figures like Napoleon, Tsar Alexander and the Rothschilds.
The series kicks off with his ascent from modest roots as he grudgingly agrees to whip up meals for Napoleon Bonaparte (portrayed by Frank Molinaro), offering viewers a glimpse into the opulent palace's inner sanctum and its demanding kitchen, reports the Express.
In a chat with Express Online, lead actor Voisin shed light on why Carême stands out as a period drama unlike any other.
"The great thing [about Carême] is it's a small story within a big story," he elaborated.
"We knew the general picture of Napoleon, that great emperor who conquered the world, but we didn't know what soft horror lay behind it. And one of them was cuisine.
"He was recognised by all for having the best table, he invited kings and heads of state and government, they wanted to be invited to his table just to taste the food. And, of course, he used that and he had his guests eat and drink and at the end of the meal sign whatever he wanted them to sign.
"So it was most interesting to focus on that aspect of things and go through the story of a 25-year-old boy who wants to become a chef and ends up in the Tuileries [Palace], the best place in Paris at the time, to run the finest team of cooks."
While Napoleon might pop up in the series, he's not the star of the show. Still, by showcasing how pivotal Carême's culinary skills were to his rule, the audience will see just how integral the emperor's kitchen operations were, rivaling even his military tactics.
Voisin's co-lead Lyna Khoudri, playing Carême's lover Henriette, chimed in: "The small story within the big story was what made it interesting. Just in terms of architecture, the story brought me to places I wanted to see on screen.
"Of course, you have the kitchens of the Tuileries Palace, and when you walk around it you can't imagine that behind the arcades and buildings there were all these people working. That I found very seductive, very attractive."
Voisin added his two cents: "Yes, he went to thousands of places, so you can make a series out of that, and it would frustrate me to just make a feature film because then you'd just have two hours to focus on a few tidbits of his life, but here you can go much wider because the man had a very exciting and broad life."
Director Bourboulon also made it clear that while Carême will be the star of the show in the eight-part drama, Napoleon's presence will loom large throughout the tale.
"Napoleon is not the main character of this show," he explained. "For sure, the story took place under Napoleon's reign, but Napoleon as a character is not the main character.
"We have decided to not see him a lot. He's always in the shadows, in the back, we're always behind him.
"I think it's more a show about the period rather than Napoleon's character, compared to previous movies such as Ridley Scott's, for example.
"But we can learn a lot about Napoleon's drama and Napoleon's reign, about the divorce [from Joséphine de Beauharnais], about a lot of things."
For TV buffs eager to dive into their Napoleonic history or just get lost in a sizzling historical romp, don't miss Apple TV+'s latest grandiose drama dropping this week.
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