1940: Raoul, the fat, hotel head chef of 'Le Meurice' fights back, in occupied Paris, in the only way he can.
1940, Paris falls to the occupying Germans. Raoul, fat Head Chef of Le Meurice, the top hotel of Paris, is nonchalant. He is content to wait for Pétain to make peace and for everything to return to normal. He wants to get on with life and admire his scullery-maid, Natalie with unrequited love.
When the Germans begin to cut out the Jewish staff and finally threaten Natalie, he realises he can no longer ignore what is happening
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Hauptmann Schiller, the SD officer who has taken over the hotel, insists upon more German food, and Raoul acquiesces as he hides Jewish members of staff in any nook or cranny he can find in the hotel. In the end, even the wine cellar is occupied by refugees
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On the night of a big German military banquet, Schiller hints he knows Raoul’s secret. He seems to know where Natalie hides. He describes what he will do to her.
It is then Raoul has to act and he discovers he has more resources than his bechamel sauce.