Bitter Taste is an award-winning drama short film set in the wake of Glasgow’s rapid deindustrialization and economic decline in the 90s. A young Fraser falls victim to knife crime and is left with a “Glasgow smile,” forever altering his sense of self and relationship to food. Two decades later, in the bustling streets of New York City, Fraser is a successful chef, yet his inner turmoil only deepens. His fixation with recreating his mother’s apple crumble becomes the battleground for his subconscious struggles.

Realism is heightened by on-location shooting and the use of non-actors and first-time performers. Alexis Trolf, who plays Fraser, is a real head chef and restaurant owner in New York. Produced on a modest budget raised primarily through crowdfunding, Bitter Taste reflects the power of independent filmmaking and offers a poignant exploration of unresolved trauma in a society that prioritizes profit over healing.