Forget the Popcorn—Keep Some Cheese Nearby
The Big Cheese is an 88-minute documentary that (not surprisingly from its title) centers on the spotted career of an American cheesemonger, Adam Moskowitz.
A cheesemonger is a specialized merchant who sells, selects, and cares for cheese—in other words. a cheese expert. In this film this particular rather flawed expert coaches a ragtag group of cheese lovers from around the country into an American team to compete in the “Olympics of Cheese”—an international cheesemonger competition called the Mondial du Fromage in Tours, France.
The team seeks to uplift the reputation of American cheese beyond Kraft singles and Cheez Whiz, although the Americans still come with a lot of tattoos and swearing.
The competition depicted here is reminiscent of the Paris Wine Tasting of 1976, when California winemakers in Napa beat their French competition in both white and red wines in a blind tasting judged by the French.
Moskowitz is an unlikely leader. While he comes from the world of cheese (it was his family’s business), this story takes place after he has finally landed on his feet after several failed ventures and flirtations with addiction.
Sara Joe Wolansky’s entertaining directorial debut is compelling enough to hold your interest, but it could have been edited down to an hour or so. The photography and sound are excellent, so much so that you must have some cheese close by—because you will want some after experiencing this film.
(You might even want to try making cheese yourself. San Luis Obispo’s own Cal Poly Dairy Products Technology Center offers several different short courses, lasting from a few hours to a few days. As a graduate of one, I can recommend it highly.)
While you must see The Big Cheese to find out how the team fares in its competition, you might be interested to know that on September 15, 2025, Emilia D’Albero made history by becoming the first American to win the gold medal at the Mondial.
Screenings of The Big Cheese (88 minutes, USA, rated PG-13, in English, French and Japanese) at the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival April 23-28 are sponsored by Maggie King in memory of Dale King. The April 25 screening features a small selection of cheeses from 15 Degrees C Wine Shop and Restaurant.