Ok, I would have first seen this movie back quite some time ago (1990’s or before). American film, in color.

I had thought this was a Tom Hanks film, but when I go through his IMDB, none of the titles/images brings it to mind, so I’m thinking in that I’m mistaken.

So, what I do remember is that the main character during part of the film works as a volunteer chemical tester, being exposed to various chemical substances that among other things, destroys his sense of smell, and with it his sense of taste. He ends up working at jobs that most anyone would rather not do, since they are so unpleasant (I think one of those jobs was in a salt factory, as I feel I remember seeing him slipping and tumbling down a huge pile of some grainy/almost powdery stuff), and lives his life on the small wages he can make, and the disability checks he gets for the residual damages from the chemical exposures.

I’m pretty sure it was a dark comedy, as it vacillated between the humor of the things he went through, and the dark, near empty life he led. Even touching on the fact that his limited finances weren’t too bad, as without a sense of taste, he just ate the same meals every day, cause it was cheap and easy (spaghetti).

I can’t remember what else happens, just images of him in a test chamber getting flooded with various gasses/chemicals, and taking off his mask (if he even had one to begin with), and hacking/coughing/sneezing, being treated badly by bosses, and that scene of him trying to move across, or up that huge pile of near sandy stuff, slipping, tumbling and falling, and getting frustrated with it all…

I know, this is pretty vague, but I’m really hoping someone can help me find this one, as I’d like to check it out again, if for no better reason than to give it context, so that isn’t the only parts I can recall about it…

Thanks for any help!