Year:
2001
Studio:
Samuel Goldwyn Films LLC
Starz! Encore Entertainment
Movie: 3/5
DVD:
0/5
Tortilla Soup is a
really nice independent film about a Mexican-American family and
Mexican food. Hector Elizondo plays Martin Naranjo (pronounced as the
Spanish "Mar-teen", the patriarch. A wonderfully talented cook who is
losing his sense of taste. Martin lost his wife 15 years ago and raised
three daughters by himself.
The daughters are Leticia (Elizabeth Peña), the eldest and a
grade school teacher who is worried about becoming an old maid; Carmen
(Jacqueline Obtradors), successful businesswoman who secretly yearns to
follow Martin's footsteps and pursue her cooking passion; and Maribel
(Tamara Mello), the young rebel getting ready to attend college.
Peripherally there are also Yolanda (Constance Marie) and her mother
Hortensia (Raquel Welch). I didn't quite get why Yolanda was a friend
of the family but Hortensia is in the movie to pursue Martin.
The main theme of the movie is growing up and moving away from home.
All three women live at home. During the movie they each find their own
reasons to leave home. Meanwhile Martin has to deal with his daughters
becoming independent and what he's going to do with his life once
they've finally moved out.
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One of the
features of this movie are the wonderful cooking scenes. Lots of
lingering shots of Martin spending a lot of time creating Sunday dinner
which is the only family dinner where everyone is present. Delicious
Mexican dishes of all types, so much better looking than what you get
at a typical Mexican restaurant.
This is a nice little movie with good characters and acting. I guess a
slice of life, Mexican-American style. I found this to be an
interesting movie though I'm a bit disappointed that there were no
extras on the DVD. Still, it is a good movie.
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