Like Water for Chocolate (film)
| Like Water for Chocolate | |
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| Directed by | Alfonso Arau |
| Produced by | Alfonso Arau |
| Written by | Laura Esquivel |
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| Cinematography |
Steven Bernstein Emmanuel Lubezki |
| Distributed by | Miramax Films |
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Release date
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Running time
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123 minutes |
| Country | Mexico |
| Language | Spanish/English |
| Box office | $21.6 million (USA) |
Like Water for Chocolate (Spanish: Como Agua Para Chocolate) is a 1992 Mexican film in the style of magical realism based on the popular novel, published in 1989 by first-time Mexican novelist Laura Esquivel. It earned ten Ariel Awards including the Best Picture and was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The film became the highest grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the United States at the time. The film was selected as the Mexican entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 65th Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.
This story consists of a girl named Tita, the youngest out of three daughters. Their mother, Elena, insists on upholding the family tradition that the youngest daughter has the duty of caring for her mother until she dies. When Tita meets a boy named Pedro they quickly fall in love. Pedro goes to Tita’s house and asks her mother if they are allowed to marry. Elena forbids it and instead suggests he marry Tita’s older sister Rosaura. Pedro decides to accept and Tita is devastated. After the wedding, Pedro tells Tita that he only married her sister so that he will be able to stay close to his true beloved.
Within the family structure, Rosaura is the oldest. Next is Gertrudis, who was created by an affair with another man. Last is Tita, who is always fighting for her rights. Each daughter represents something within the Mexican revolution. Rosaura is representing the upper class, the people who get things handed to them and have nothing to worry about. Gertrudis represents people who are actually in the revolution, since she runs away and joins it. Tita represents the people who are left fighting for their rights, who are given nothing in return.
Before her sister’s wedding, Tita is preparing the food with Nacha, and some of Tita’s tears get mixed in with the batter. This results in an emotional riot in which everyone feels devastated and longs for their one true love. After Pedro gives Tita some roses, she uses the petals to prepare a sauce. As they are eating dinner everyone feels an intense passion and Gertrudis even sets the shower on fire with her passion.
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Wikipedia