The documentary, “Lisa Dahl: Blessed by Grace,” was only supposed to be about three minutes long – a short, promotional video, also known as a sizzle reel, about an award-winning chef. But, says director Eric Wolfinger, it turned into a 26-minute-long documentary that will now be screened at the Coronado Island Film Festival on Nov. 9.
Wolfinger, who lives in San Diego, is best known as a commercial food photographer and director. However, this latest endeavor goes far beyond his 37 cookbooks and sizzle reels.
In his second ever documentary, Wolfinger turned his talents to Lisa Dahl, a chef inspired by Italian and Latin flavors, whose culinary journey is intertwined with grief and healing and her personal rebirth in her career.
Originally, Wolfinger came on to the project to make what he’s always made: a fast-paced and visually captivating short video about Sedona, Arizona, restaurateur Dahl and her kitchen creations.
But, as he got to know the subject, it became clear there was a deeper narrative he wanted to uncover and share. “I thought it was a beautiful story that deserved to be told in a beautiful way,” Wolfinger said. And he had his own personal connection to her past that drew him to this project.
Dahl’s 23-year-old son, Justin Jones, was murdered in 1994, when she was 40 years old and living in San Francisco. Justin witnessed someone taking a backpack and had chased down the person on his bicycle when he was stabbed to death.
“She moved to Sedona as part of a healing journey, and opening a restaurant was also part of her healing journey,” Wolfinger explained.
Wolfinger lost a family member – his brother, in 2015.
“It’s different,” the director admitted. “But I can also empathize and relate. When you have catastrophic loss in your life, it reframes your priorities and it also can be used as a catalyst for purpose.”
Wolfinger saw that purpose in Dahl. When they met and started filming, he said, they instantly clicked – in part because of her magnetic personality.
“When the opportunity came to create an actual film … I knew that this is an incredibly compelling story with a person that I have forged a very personal connection with,” Wolfinger said.
Even though her son has died, she is guided by her son … She is a mother to every single person that she works with and works for her. There’s this sense that being a chef has allowed her to continue being a mother.
Director Eric Wolfinger
“Even though her son has died, she is guided by her son … She is a mother to every single person that she works with and works for her,” Wolfinger said. “There’s this sense that being a chef has allowed her to continue being a mother.”
And, so, Wolfinger completed a longer documentary in just a month with a team of three. Spencer Sarson was the principal cinematographer and co-editor. Israel Alemu handled B-cam, lighting and sound for the sizzle reel before Sean Johnson came in for the extended filming and editing period.
Filming and editing took place in February. The goal was to finish on time to premiere at the Sedona Film Festival on March 1.
Wolfinger said the message in this film is to find one’s purpose, and in filming this documentary, he was reminded of his own. It was a lesson he learned through his own tragedy: to focus on his family.
He moved his family from the Bay Area to San Diego around three-and-a-half years ago so his children could be with their grandparents.
“Tragedy can either break you, or it can help you find your purpose,” Wolfinger said. “Listening to Lisa’s interviews day in and day out reminded me of certain things, called into question certain things … I’m actually actively considering a sort of new path in my professional career, partially as a result of this film.”
“Lisa Dahl: Blessed by Grace” will be shown on Nov. 9 at 1:30 p.m. at the John D. Spreckels Center.
