Quartile rating: 7/10 · 1 rating
Somm takes the viewer on a humorous, emotional and illuminating look into the mysterious world of the Court of Master Sommeliers and their massively intimidating Master Sommelier Exam.
Somm earns genuine novelty points for pulling back the curtain on an obsessive, arcane subculture most viewers have never encountered — the Master Sommelier exam is a genuinely singular world. The documentary's strength lies in its subject matter and the compelling personalities of the candidates, whose passion borders on mania, making it emotionally engaging despite fairly conventional documentary filmmaking techniques. Cinematography is functional but unremarkable, and the 'acting' (naturalistic subject behavior) ranges from candid to occasionally performative for the camera. The ending delivers satisfying emotional payoff as exam results are revealed, though it follows a predictable competition-doc structure. Overall a distinctive niche documentary elevated almost entirely by its unusual subject.