There obviously are many messages in the film, given the many comments. However, for me the pivotal message was ‘love.’ The main man chef clearly says that love has nothing to do with it. And ultimately, he fails. He has no family, apparently no friends, pushes until retaliation nearly kills him, and his last lesson he has to give her is to have people hunger after you, personally. That, apparently, is his goal, having control over those he despises, or resents, which has left him in a very dark place, and dark things come to him. But the girl is looking for the right way to serve her skills, and keeps turning away from that which turns her away, back to family, home, love, and good universal values. There may be a disparity in economics and class, but that pales in comparison to the message that speaks to love and a poverty of love. Food filled with love, and eaten with contentment, with gratitude, will not be seen by those who cannot see it. Who really are the poor, and who are really the rich? I thought it was a beautiful message given in a brilliant, evocative way, even against violent images at times.