Ratatouille - What Does Ratatouille Teach kids About Passion, Purpose and Hidden Talent

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Ratatouille is a heartwarming and inspiring story about passion, purpose and hidden talent. Remy is a rat with an extraordinary passion for food. He delights in mixing flavours and proudly displays his refined palate to his family. 

Yet, despite his gift, Remy is still just a rat in the eyes of society. He is judged by his appearance, and yet, for all his connoisseurship, Remy is still a rat - and occasionally does very ratty things;  but dares to dream dreams far greater than his circumstances. Remy's passion is not random-it is part of his purpose.

This beloved film teaches children (and adults) that true talent is not defined by background, status, or appearance, but by passion, dedication, and courage. 

A Passion That Defies Expectations

Remy is no ordinary rat. While others in his family are content with scavenging. He has a refined palate and a deep passion for cooking. He studies flavours, experiments with ingredients, and dreams of becoming a world-class chef. 

However, the world around him sees him only as a pest.

This contrast highlights a deeper truth: Remy's passion is not accidental - it is tied to his purpose.

Ratatouille portrays real-life situations where people are judged based on appearance, background, or social status. Many individuals are dismissed before their potential is ever discovered.

 This scene brings to mind another of my favourite Bible verses:

"... But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise... the weak things of the world to shame the strong." (1 Corinthians 1:28 to 29)

When Life Falls Apart: Remy's Journey to Paris

Sadly, during a food hunt in an old lady's house, he and his entire family are shot at and forced to flee. They run amok, climb over the roof, escape through the sewers, and use several bits of rubbish as makeshift rescue boats to float away. In the process, Remy parted ways with his father and all his friends. 

Stranded and uncertain, he found comfort in a book he stole from the old lady's house: Gusteau's recipe book, which he studied with passion and dedication. 

Coincidence - or twist of fate - while roaming, he discovers he's in Paris and notices Gusteau's. Gusteau's is a renowned establishment serving exclusive dishes created by the late chef Gusteau. The restaurant is run by his sous-chef, Skinner, who operates it for profit by marketing frozen food.

Alfredo Linguini and an Unexpected Partnership

Then comes Alfredo Linguini. Linguini's mother has died, but before her death, she wrote a letter and asked her son to deliver it to Chef Skinner. 

Linguini is hired as a garbage boy at Gusteau's restaurant. Later, when Skinner opens the letter, he discovers that Linguini is, in fact, Gusteau's son, but he keeps the news to himself. 

Unlike Remy, Linguini has no cooking skills and accidentally ruins a pot of soup. Remy helps him fix it. 

To everyone's surprise, the dish becomes a success. Customers enjoy the delicious soup and ask for more. 

Both Linguini and Remy have lost their parents, and from that moment on, they form a bond. Remy finds an opportunity to share his savoir faire with Linguini, and controls the cooking from beneath teh latter's hat, guiding him like a hidden master chef. Together they create something unique. 

Life Lessons From Ratatouille

The story of Ratatouille is more than animation-it is a reflection of real life.

Talent Can Come From Anywhere

Ratatouille gently reminds us that greatness is never limited by where we come from or how the world sees us; a forgotten garbage boy unaware of his heritage and a rejected yet brilliant rat both carry dreams far bigger than their circumstances, proving that true talent is born within, not assigned by society and that even the most overlooked lives can rise to greatness when passion meets purpose. This is where the story moves beyond food and enters the heart of human experience. 

As Gusteau famously said, "Anyone Can Cook," echoing Philippians 4:13: "I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me."

Do Not Judge by Appearance or Background

Ratatouille portrays real-life situations that reflect how often we judge others based on their appearance and background. Many people are quickly labelled as insignificant, causing their true talent and potential to go unnoticed. 

When Remy's talent is finally revealed in Ratatouille, through the dish he helps Linguini create, a simple yet powerful ratatouille that transports the stern, cold, and feared food critic Anton Ego back to his childhood, the reaction is not immediate acceptance. Instead, the restaurant staff walks out in disapproval. Yet in that moment, Remy's hidden talent challenges their assumptions and expectations. 

This powerful scene highlights one of the key messages of Ratatouille: talent can come from anywhere, regardless of social status or background.

Indeed, many of us are looked down upon and reduced to the level of a rodent like Remy, but in God's eyes, we are precious. Even Anton Ego, who once dismissed Gusteau's motto, "Anyone Can cook," revises his views after tasting Remy's humble ratatouille and admits, "Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere."

If Ratatouille speaks to your heart, I'd recommend watching it if you haven't already. And if you have seen it before, watching it again may shed new light on its message. 

Please watch a trailer here.