![SOREN ZUEHLKE. "Initially, I was probably like, ‘That was a fun movie!’ But I think my love for [“Ratatouille”] really came when I questioned why I was so obsessed with French things and found it probably had a lot to do with that movie being the background for such an important time in my life when I was little" he said.](https://www.rubiconline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/IMG_3394.jpeg)
For some people, movies are not just entertainment: they can rewire how one sees the world. For junior Soren Zuehlke, “Ratatouille” did just that.
Zuehlke’s love for the film began when he lived in a duplex as a little kid, which he describes as “the coziest time of [his] life.” The upstairs tenants, a couple from France, were a constant presence during those years and he remembers spending time with them regularly. With French neighbors above him and “Ratatouille” playing on repeat, Zuehlke developed an early appreciation for French culture.
“I became, and still am, obsessed with French things. Especially cooking because of ‘Ratatouille,’” he said. As he grew older, he drew a broader lesson from the film. “I learned to appreciate when something is done really, really well. [“Ratatouille”] made me form the belief that if you do something that you love, you should do it to the best of your capabilities,” Zuehlke said.
Though this film entered Zuehlke’s life at a young age, it continues to affect his everyday decisions. There are three takeaways from the film, in particular, that Zuehlke reminds himself of even years later.
“First, I try not to be a picky eater. I figure if someone out there put time and effort into this dish, it has to be pretty good. Second, I care about how I present myself. Third, and foremost, I deeply appreciate when something is well done,” he said. “It doesn’t need to be decadent, complicated and expensive; it just needs to be done right. That’s what “Ratatouille” is about, and that is a concept I use to make decisions on what I buy, eat, enjoy, whatever, every day.”
Looking back, Zuehlke explains that his connection to this film only deepened as he grew and began to think about what media has influenced who he is and what he likes to do. “Initially, I was probably like, ‘That was a fun movie!’ But I think my love for [“Ratatouille”] really came when I questioned why I was so obsessed with French things and found it probably had a lot to do with that movie being the background for such an important time in my life when I was little,” he said.
What began as a childhood favorite, closely tied to a specific moment in Zuehlke’s life, eventually transformed into the framework for how he approaches everyday situations. Even now, he returns to the film’s central takeaway: simple things, when treated with care and effort, can be great.
