Name: Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers
Genre: Documentary
Released: 1980-10-12
Duration: 51 min
Rating: 8.3
Cast: Alice Waters, Werner Herzog, Harrod Blank, Michael Goodwin, Christopher Pray

Garlic Is as Good as Ten Mothers backdrop

1980·Documentary·51m

8.3

★

A zesty paean of praise to the greater glories of garlic. This lip-smacking foray into the history, consumption, cultivation and culinary/curative powers of the stinking rose features chef Alice Waters of Chez Panisse, and a flavorful musical soundtrack. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in 1999.

Directed by Les Blank

garlic

Trailer

IMDB

N/A

Letterboxd

4.0 / 5

Cast

Alice Waters

Self - Chez Panisse Restaurant, Berkeley

Werner Herzog

Self - Film Director: Nosferatu

Harrod Blank

Self - Youth Saved From Dysentery

Crew

Les Blank

Director

Maureen Gosling

Editor

Les Blank

Director of Photography

Les Blank

Producer

Maureen Gosling

Sound Recordist

Wim Wenders

Additional Camera

Salvador Dalí

Thanks

Popular Reviews

13 reviews

Cristina Mercado

10.0★ · 03/03/26

I was particularly drawn to this documentary because I too LOVE garlic, it’s interesting to see just how many cultures use it and in so many different ways!! In an interesting sort of way it brings together community, how special 💓. Also side note I don’t think I ever really realized just how many songs were made about garlic, pretty cool!!

Tucker Clement

Back when anti-modern medicine granola moms were also left wing lol

I should join a garlic cult and be a garlic belly dancer. That seems like my true calling.

Sydney Salk

wow I’m so happy I love garlic and so should you
🧄🧄🧄

Gabriel Silva

9.0★ · 04/16/25

Food is the connective tissue of culture. We gather to eat, we gather to celebrate. If there is a celebration it is not complete without food. Garlic Is As Good As Ten Mothers shows how Les Blank thinks about food through the people who love garlic - a staple across many different cultures on this grand planet. The mystical properties of garlic are presented side by side with actual facts about garlic, all inserted among the cuisine and musings of people who love the herb. It’s utterly joyous!

Benjie

10.0★ · 04/13/25

I love when they’re interviewing a random farmer and he seems so confused about why they keep asking about garlic

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