Like Water for Chocolate
A critique of the film Like Water for Chocolate The novel Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel has won many hearts as well as awards when first published in 1989 in Spanish and 1992 in English. In the novel Esquivel encompasses us with the sweet aroma of the imagination and creativity. Unfortunately, this can not be said of the feature film that was based on the book. Como agua para chocolate was released as a Mexican language film in 1993 featuring English subtitles. Although the subtitles were provided to help the Spanish-illeterate to understand the film, it was just as confusing to follow the plot with them. Like a bad cook standing behind his/her cuisines, Esquivel's integrity is questioned here. Although directed by Alfonso Arau, the screenplay was provided by Esquivel herself. Unfortunately, Esquivel should have quitted while being ahead instead of marinating the novel into a tasteless movie. Most books thrive on the reader's imagination which quickly gets digested away when it comes to the widescreen. Although some films have complimented books very well (Jurassic Park, the Green Mile, etc.) Como agua para chocolate sports a genre of simply "Bad" and ends up giving the viewer a bad taste in
Rather, the director, as if in hopes to gain more sales at the box office, has Pedro popping up conveniently to satisfy his teenage-instincts. The plot depicted in the film is undercooked and quite a bit of detail was cut out. Unfortunately for her though, she is forbidden to wed but instead she must care for her mother until her mother dies. Although it seems as if Romney is less understanding than De Valdes, Romney does have good points about the film. In the novel, Tita's father dies soon after her birth but the novel never gave the hint of the cause, rather, it was due to a heart attack. It was as though it was counting on people appetizing the book prior to viewing the film. The film goes on with lackluster performance and spoilers that makes one lose their appetite. Like Water for Chocolate was one of those novels that were never meant to be depicted onscreen. But the film quickly pre-chews the plot. Regardless of how Mama Elena died, Tita was inevitably haunted by Mama Elena's ghost. Maria De Valdes goes on to defend the film by explaining that these types of films are much like women's magazines; they are written by women to be understood by women. Mama Elena, although hurt, refused to digest any of Tita's foods in fear of poisioning and instead, dies from lack of nutrition than wounds. But the main point that Romney would most likely strongly disagree with is the mere assumption that Como agua para chocolate was only intended for "Mexican women - and to some extent Latin American women - viewers" who can relate to the De Garza family.
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Acceptance Essays
