LOGLINE:

In a universe stirred into being by a Cosmic Chef, a young culinary savant must revive a mythical Sauce that can restore balance and harmony to the world — before a power-hungry duke seizes the recipe as a weapon of domination.

 

On the enchanted island of Bellacopia, where art and cuisine are sacred, a starlit mystery begins during a celestial event called the Pastanova Sky. A prophetic meteor shower that appears once in a generation pours down from the heavens like linguini and stardust to awaken divine flavors and supernatural elements on the Earth.  It’s a sign that the ingredients for the Sacred Sauce of Immortality are ready to be harvested by a chef, pure of heart and mind. 

On such a night, a baby is found floating in the bay — wrapped in noodles and starlight. His name is Baba, and his life begins in a seaside orphanage transformed into a culinary school by a once-great chef named Papo Gostoso.  Papo failed in his attempt to revive the dormant Sauce of Immortality kept hidden on the island. Rejected after breaking his oath to Renaissance genius Leonardo, and other “Keepers of the Sauce”— Papo adopts Baba, and his life takes on a new meaning and purpose.

From a young age, Baba shows the instincts of a prodigy — curious, humble, and attuned to the invisible harmony in food and life. He grows up alongside Zinfandella, the daughter of Leonardo, a beloved inventor, artist and philosopher. Leonardo was exiled from Milan to Bellacopia by Duke Vincencio along with his daughter for his forbidden affair with Mona Lisa, the Duke’s sister.  Zin was raised in Bellacopia by Leonardo and Marcel, Leo’s assistant, flying instructor and narrator who adds clarity to the story in his charming French accent. 

 

THE TURN OF EVENTS

At age 15, Zin chooses to visit her estranged mother — the clever and manipulative Mona Lisa —  and spends three years under the tutelage of nobility in Milan; where she’s seduced by power and poise. In her absence, Baba’s life is turned upside down: Narcissist and rival chef Prince Machabelli is threatened by Baba’s emerging brilliance and burns down the culinary school.  Papo’s leg is badly wounded in a dramatic explosion and Baba is traumatized by the fire. Combined with Zinfandella’s departure, Baba is stripped of his confidence and purpose. He  disappears from public view and is enslaved at Machabelli’s restaurant-cabaret—forced to cook in the shadow of his flamboyant arch nemesis.  

Years pass…until the Pastanova Sky returns, along with Zinfandella.

Baba, now a young man, is fired by his abusive employer Machabelli in a dramatic scene at Zinfandella’s homecoming celebration.  Baba is invited to work as head chef in Aunt Chovi’s Bistro—a new down-to-earth venue for tourists and locals.  His reputation grows quickly, as the fabled meteor shower has ignited curiosity in a new Quest for the Sacred Sauce.  A search for the chef of destiny has begun. Leonardo and his genius comrades comb the island to find a pure and gifted soul capable of a Quest that will unite four supernatural ingredients in perfect balance. To stir them together is to restore balance and harmony to the world.

After an exhaustive search for a chef,  Leonardo is invited by Zinfandella to join her at Aunt Chovi’s Bistro— where he discovers Baba’s creativity in action. This turning point features Zinfandella’s performance “A Place Where I Belong” and Leonardo’s decision to invite Baba to the Quest’s inner-circle at his vineyard estate.    

 

THE QUEST BEGINS

A musical initiation titled “At the Speed of Light” with Renaissance celebrities sends Baba out on his adventure to gather the Sauce’s final elements. Each ingredient lies within a landscape more fantastical than the last. Marcel and Zinfandella are chosen to train Baba how to fly.  Baba feels overwhelmed, but excited to have Zinfandella as his teacher and friend.  Zin is wise but torn between her roots in Bellacopia and the world of status and entitlement. As their journey unfolds, so too does their love — challenged by secrets, tested by betrayal, and ultimately made pure through sacrifice.

 

Lava Salt  (the gift of Fire) is mined from volcanic caverns, and the essential ingredient that keeps the Sacred Sauce alive with internal heat. Lava Salt gives courage and decisive action. Baba conquers his fear of fire with only a taste of Lava Salt, and rescues Zinfandella near the volcano when her wings are in flames. In one selfless act, he cures his PTSD and endears himself to Zinfandella.

 

Falcon Seeds (the gift of Air) are contained inside the cones of the forest habitat of giant falcons. Found only in the highest branches, Baba watches the Falcon Matriarch feed her offspring seeds that bestow powerful vision. She recognizes Baba’s humility — rewarding him with a load of precious seed-cones that blended in the Sauce give genius level foresight and Intuition.
 

Neptune Orchid (the gift of Water)—is protected by seductive water nymphs in the Valley of Narcissus. The orchid symbolizes True Love and Inner Beauty—To gain this power it is required to face temptation and the vanity of self-love. Baba is seduced by the external beauty of the nymphs and their hypnotic vocal harmonies. He’s finally seduced by his own reflection and must be rescued by Zinfandella, who breaks the spell with a powerful song and receives the Orchid.

 

Moly Root (the gift of Earth) is hidden (like all roots) and requires a sixth sense to find it. Baba has gone blind misusing Falcon Seeds on his search for the Moly Root, and finds Hermeto to teach him to use his “inner-vision” Relying on sound and vibration to “see”— they “Speak to the Earth” in a rhythmic song that guides them to the magical Moly plant which bestows the power of “Endurance”. The Root is anchored to the Earth symbolizing longevity and strength,.

 

But forces conspire against them. Duke Vincenzio, Mona Lisa’s brother and Milan’s ruthless patriarch, seeks to harness the Sauce for political domination. Backed by Machabelli’s vanity and the blundering spy Joey Scambuti, the nobility moves to counterfeit the recipe and crown a false hero.

 

THE CLIMAX

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In the climactic finale, Marcel's Flyers battle Vincenzio's ships until only one remains. Machabelli and Mona Lisa have fallen into a coma after an epic fantasy bullfight between Baba (the Bull) and Machabelli (the Bullfighter) to decide who owns the Moly Root.  Baba cleverly escapes with enough Root to finish the Sacred Sauce.--leaving his enemies to overdose on Moly Root and fall into a coma. 

 

The emotional core of the film hinges on whether Baba and Zin can see through the lies and illusions, suspicion and betrayal that have been laid in their path..--all of these are magnified in Baba's mind after he is poisoned by the fake orchid from the Valley of Narcissus that he thought was real.   By the time Zinfandella arrives with the real Neptune Orchid, Baba is poisoned by the Imposter Orchid and convinced he has been betrayed by Zin and her mother!  Zinfandella has seen  through the deception and retrieved the authentic blossom from the nymphs.  Only love and forgiveness  can save Baba from the poison of betrayal . He finally lays dying next to the Chalice as Zin  revives him with the true Orchid.  His eyes and his heart are awakened to the power of selfless love   — just in time to stir the Sauce to life.  The Sauce begins to whirl with galactic energy, lighting up the cavern as rocks tumble and lava flows. Zinfandella slides toward an abyss and hangs above steaming Lava as Baba risks his life to save her.  Rocks crumble as Papo eats a sauce-soaked piece of bread.

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In a mystic transformation from the physical to spiritual--Papo ascends through the rocks to join the Big Bear Constellation and hold the Celestial Spoon—Big Dipper of mythical origin. As the Chalice breaks free on a slab of rock, Scambuti makes a desperate attempt to taste the Sauce and jumps on the slab as it sails away on a river of lava. The river finally separates the Duke’s army from Baba and Zin.  The Sauce of Immortality is not going to be served to those who hunger for power.  It is poured, reverently, into the island’s heart  a sacred return to the earth.  Bellacopia will survive to witness the exile of dark forces in a final scene of music and celebration.  Leonardo, at last, reveals to Baba that a portion of the dormant sauce still remains hidden — waiting to to be revived when the Pastanova Sky appears again.

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