Watch tip: The Truffle Hunters about the disappearing world of truffle hunters
On 28 June 2023, The Truffle Hunters will be on TV: a documentary about the disappearing world of truffle hunters. The Truffle Hunters shows not only the beauty, but also the difficult and sometimes dark existence of truffle hunters. With a touch of humor, too.
Hunting for the Alba truffle
The documentary is about Italian truffle hunters from the Piedmont region of Italy. A group of older men who, together with their dogs, hunt for the most expensive ingredient in the world: the Alba truffle. Truffle hunting is a profession passed down from generation to generation. But that seems to be coming to an end. The truffle hunter’s way of life is under threat of extinction. The reasons include deforestation and the lack of young people who want to live as truffle hunters. What does this mean for the search for the precious delicacy?
A passionate life with a raw edge
The Truffle Hunters offers a realistic glimpse into the life of the Italian truffle hunter. A simple existence in which love for the truffle and for their loyal dog takes center stage. It is almost endearing to see how the energetic men live in harmony with the truffle, their loved ones and the nature around them. Yet it is also a world with a raw edge of black-market trade and fierce competition. The poisoning of one of a truffle hunter’s favorite dogs—so heartbreaking—also features. The Truffle Hunters is an ode to a passionate, somewhat mysterious way of life that we probably will no longer encounter in a few years.
The Truffle Hunters on TV
The Truffle Hunters, directed by Michael Dweck and Gregory Kershaw, premiered several years ago: in December 2020. If you missed it, you’ll have another chance to watch it on Wednesday 28 June at 10:20 p.m. The documentary will be broadcast by VPRO, on NPO 2.
Read also:
- Easy and delicious: this is how to make divine truffle pasta at home
- 10 truffle products from the supermarket that you need a magnifying glass to find
- Tip for truffle lovers: a truffle lunch in the vineyard
Source and images: VPRO
