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Home , Alfonso Arau, A Walk in the Clouds, Laura Esquivel, The Purple Rose of Cairo

November 29, 2016 (XXXIII: 14) Afonso Arrau: LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE (1992), 105 min.

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Romancing the Stone (1984) and a hyperbolic desperado in Three Amigos! (1986). He established himself in the upper echelon of directors with the multiple-award-winning Like Water for Chocolate (1992), based on the novel by his wife . The success garnered him work in the U.S. helming the period romance (1995), the oddball ensemble comedy Picking Up the Pieces (2000) and the ambitious TV miniseries remake of the The Magnificent Ambersons" (A&E, 2002). Back in his native country, Arau would helm the surreal, would-be epic Zapata- El sueño del héroe (2004) to a storm of controversy. Building a legacy of iconoclastic and mystically-tinged movies, Arau would be Directed by credited as a prime catalyst in the re-establishment of a Written by Laura Esquivel (novel & screenplay) distinctive identity for Mexican film. Some of his additional 13 Produced by Alfonso Arau directorial credits are L'imbroglio nel lenzuolo (2010), A Music Leo Brouwer Painted House (2003, TV Movie), The Magnificent Ambersons Cinematography Steven Bernstein & (2002, TV Movie), Picking Up the Pieces (2000), Like Water (director of photography) for Chocolate (1992), Chido Guan, el tacos de oro (1986), Film Editing Carlos Bolado & Francisco Chiu Mojado Power (1981) and Caribe, estrella y aguila (1976, Documentary). His acting credits include I Heart Shakey (2012), Cast The Dead One (2007), Picking Up the Pieces (2000), Committed Marco Leonardi…Pedro Muzquiz (2000), Polvora en la piel (1992), Walker (1987), Used Cars Lumi Cavazos…Tita (1980), Tívoli (1975), Posse (1975), Inspector Calzonzin (1974), Regina Torné…Mamá Elena Mario Iván Martínez…Doctor John Brown Ada Carrasco…Nacha Yareli Arizmendi…Rosaura Claudette Maillé…Gertrudis Pilar Aranda…Chencha Farnesio de Bernal…Cura Joaquín Garrido…Sargento Treviño Rodolfo Arias…Juan Alejándrez Margarita Isabel…Paquita Lobo Sandra Arau…Esperanza Muzquiz

ALFONSO ARAU (b. January 11, 1932 in City, Distrito Federal, Mexico) is better recognized as an actor by American moviegoers for essaying funny, vaguely menacing, sometimes self-aware Latino stereotypes, Alfonso Arau crafted an even more auspicious body of work as one of Mexico’s most laurel- laden film directors. He was a drama disciple of Seki Sano—a Japanese teacher, classmate of Lee Strasberg with Konstantin Stanislavski in Russia—and traveled the world from 1964 to 1968 with his one-man show, "Pantomime Happy Madness", after studying with Etienne Decroux and Jacques Lecoq in Paris. One of his first roles was performing on Mexican TV with partner Sergio Corona, as half of the dancing / singing comedy duo "Corona y Arau". Arau re-immersed himself in the cinema of his native land in the 1970s, collaborating with Mexican film greats Alberto Isaac and Alejandro Jodorowsky and taking up the “auteur” mantle himself with the comedy El águila descalza (1971). He drew greater acclaim for the 1974 subversive comedy Inspector Calzonzin. However, it was his comedic work in the 1980s that would be most memorable for U.S. audiences, notably an amiable jefe of a drug gang in Arrau—LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE—2

Bonanza (1972, TV Series), later works veer towards a (1972, TV Series), El more minimalist style. His Topo (1970), Tres amigos (1970), passion for the guitar has The Wild Bunch (1969), There remained and he is perhaps Are No Thieves in This Village best known for his Etudes (1965), Trip to the Moon (1958), Simples, a group of 20 studies Cien muchachas (1957), La for the classical guitar where locura del rock and roll (1957) technique and musicality and Looks that Kill (1954). He function as one. Brouwer has also has 8 writing credits. also explored the possibilities of large-scale works for the LAURA ESQUIVEL (b. September guitar, particularly in a piece 30, 1950 in Mexico City, Mexico) written for the 1979 Esztergom began writing while working as a Guitar Competition in kindergarten teacher. She wrote Hungary. For the event, plays for her students and Alfonso Arrau Brouwer composed a piece utilizing then went on to write an orchestra comprised of 200 children's television programs during the 1970s and 1980s. guitarists. Beyond his compositional output, he has conducted Esquivel often explores the relationship between men and some of the world's leading orchestras including the women in Mexico in her work. In 1986, she wrote and starred in Philharmonic Orchestra of Berlin, BBC Concert Orchestra, Chido Guan, el tacos de oro, however, she is best known for Orchestra Nouvelle Philharmonic de Paris, and the Symphonic Like Water for Chocolate (1990), an imaginative and Orchestra of Madrid. In addition, Brouwer retains duties as compelling combination of novel and cookbook. After the principal conductor of the Cordoba Symphony in Spain, artistic release of the film version in 1992, the novel became director of the Havana Symphony and a member of the internationally known and loved. The book has sold more than International Council of Music. Brouwer has also participated as 4.5 million copies. Esquivel has continued to show her creative a guitarist and composer in the festivals of Aldeburgh, Avignon, flair and lyrical style in her later work. Accompanied by a Edinburgh, Spoleto, Berlin, Toronto, Martinique, and Rome, collection of music, her second novel The Law of Love (1996) among others. In 2003, won an honorary lifetime achievement combined romance and science fiction. Between the Fires award at the Havana Film Festival. In 1987 he was selected, (2000) featured essays on life, love, and food. Her novel, along with Isaac Stern and Alan Danielou, to be an honorable Malinche (2006), explores the life of a near mythic figure in member of UNESCO in recognition for his music career, an Mexican history-the woman who served as Spanish honor that he shares with Menuhin, Shankar, Karajan, conquistador Hernán Cortés's interpreter and mistress. Once Sutherland and other musical luminaries. In addition to tonight’s married to director Alfonso Arau, Esquivel is divorced and lives film, his cinematic composition credits include Kill Me Over in Mexico City, Mexico. She has been a member of Mexico’s and Over (1998), Tiempo de morir (1985), Alsino and the Chamber of Deputies since 2012. Condor (1982), No hay sábado sin sol (1980), La viuda de Montiel (1979), Los sobrevivientes (1979), The Recourse to the LEO BROUWER (b. March 1, 1939 in Havana, Cuba) was Method (1978), The Last Supper (1976), The Strange Case of encouraged musically by his father, an amateur guitarist, and Rachel K (1973), A Cuban Fight Against Demons (1972), Lucía began playing the guitar when he was 13. He then became a (1968), The Adventures of Juan Quin Quin (1967), Vaqueros del descendant in an important guitar lineage: Isaac Nicola, his first cauto (1967, Documentary short), of a Bureaucrat real instructor, had studied under Emilio Pujol, who himself had (1966), The Young Rebel (1961), Stories of the Revolution been a student of Francisco Tárrega. Brouwer gave his first (1960) performance at 17 and soon was composing music as well. His Prelude was written in 1956 followed by Fugue in 1959. He STEVEN BERNSTEIN (b. date unknown, Buffalo, New York) had furthered his musical education in America, studying this to say about his winding career path: “I wanted to be a composition at the Juilliard School and at Hart College in writer, but like Pooh Bear I thought too much and wrote too Hartford. He became director of the Music Department of the little. That is too say I was more a reader then a writer, more Cinema Institute of Cuba in 1961 as well as professor of academician then poet. I got very interested in semiology and composition in the Music Conservatory and musical advisor to structuralism [the study of how language encodes ideas]. the National Radio and Television Chair of Havana. He was also Initially I studied how the spoken and written language worked, named director of the experimental department of the Cuban but then became more interested in how codes worked in other Institute of Cinema Arts and Industry, where he continued his languages, like the language of film. My interest in film own work as composer. Brouwer was the first Cuban composer language led me in a rather convoluted way to cinematography. to use aleatory forms in his compositions. His varied output I suppose I became more serious about film as a practical rather includes many works for guitar; percussion; prepared and non- then theoretical occupation, around 1976, when London, where I prepared piano; a ballet; a chorus of 12 members, three children, was living, had a lot of independent film production companies. and harp; and several orchestral pieces. He has also written There was a building in North London called the Co-op, where music for more than 100 films. Brouwer's early compositions you could edit your films for a few pounds. I think they had a reflect a Cuban influence and are strongly rhythmic while his couple of Bolex cameras available. I put an ad up offering my Arrau—LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE—3 services as a cinematographer. It was a fortuitous choice as Cinematography, winning three, for Gravity (2013), Birdman or everyone else wanted to be a director. I got hired. The first film (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (2014), and The Revenant I did was about the Druids of Stonehenge. It led to other (2015). He is the first cinematographer in history to win three independent projects. About this time a producer named John consecutive . In 2007, he ranked #24 on Roseman had the idea of producing videos for bands. I don't Entertainment Weekly’s The 50 Smartest People in Hollywood. think MTV existed yet, or if it did it was very much in its He has been the cinematographer or d.p. on over 44 films infancy. Suddenly everybody wanted to do music videos. including Knight of Cups (2015), To the Wonder (2012), The Eventually, I bought a camera and shot a whole lot of music Tree of Life (2011), Burn After Reading (2008), Children of videos. Some were quite successful. That led to commercials.” Men (2006), The New World (2005), The Assassination of His cinematographer film credits are equally eclectic ranging Richard Nixon (2004), The Cat in the Hat (2003), Ali (2001), from Monster (2003), the award- Meet Joe Black (1998), The winning film about a serial killer, Birdcage (1996), Reality Bites to tonight’s film, to Scary Movie 2 (1994), The Harvest (1992), Like (2001), the not-so-memorable Water for Chocolate (1992), sequel in the horror parody Bandits (1991) and Vengeance is franchise. In 2013 Bernstein tried Mine (1983, Short). his hand at directing in the cancer research documentary, Decoding MARCO LEONARDI (b. November Annie Parker, starring Helen Hunt 14, 1971 in Melbourne, Australia) and Samantha Morton. During the has been acting since he was three film’s release, he returned to years old, but most viewers know Buffalo for the first time in 30 him from his breakout performance years to raise funds for cancer was in , in which charities. Some of his additional 45 he played the young Toto. He then cinematographer credits are Last Till Dawn 3 (1999), Once Upon a Man Standing (2011, TV Movie), Time in Mexico (2003) and Like Behind the Smile (2006), Couples Alfonso Arrau in The Wild Bunch Water for Chocolate (1992). It was (2002, TV Movie), Scary Movie 2 (2001), The Waterboy (1998), the latter film in which Leonardi fell in love with (in real life) Highball (1997), Mr. Jealousy (1997), Murder at 1600 (1997), with his co-star, Lumi Cavazos In fact, the couple, who met and Bulletproof (1996), Underworld (1996), The Secretary (1995, fell in love on the set of Like Water for Chocolate have left their TV Movie), Moondance (1994), Like Water for Chocolate native Mexico and Italy, respectively, and now live together in a (1992), No Head for Heights (1992, TV Short), The Diamond sparse Hollywood apartment with Ben-Hur, their docile pit Brothers (1991, TV Series, 6 episodes), Conspiracy (1989) and bulldog, and, appropriately, two lovebirds. "One day, we were Smart Alec (1986). friends, and the next, we were in love," said Leonardi. "Our romance didn't affect our performance in the film," adds EMMANUEL LUBEZKI (b. November 30, 1964 in Mexico City, Cavazos, "but the chemistry between us made our love scenes Mexico) began his career in Mexican film and television much better.” When they met on the set of their film, Leonardi productions in the late 1980s. His first international production says, he spoke only Italian and she only Spanish. On a recent was the 1993 independent film Twenty Bucks, which followed night out on Melrose Avenue, the couple ordered a meal in the journey of a single twenty-dollar bill. Lubezki is a frequent Italian, spoke to fans on the street in English and posed for collaborator with fellow Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón. pictures with Spanish-speaking tourists. At home, they generally The two have been friends since they were teenagers and speak Spanish. And there's another difference since the film: He attended the same film school at the National Autonomous does the cooking. Some of his 53 acting credits are Worldly Girl University of Mexico. Together they have worked on six motion (2016), Black Souls (2014), Corleone (2007, TV Mini-Series), pictures: Sólo Con Tu Pareja (1991), A Little Princess (1995), Mary (2005), Don Matteo (2004, TV Series), Once Upon a Time Great Expectations (1998), Y Tu Mamá También (2001), in Mexico (2003), Texas Rangers (2001), The Five Senses Children of Men, and Gravity (2013). His work with Cuarón on (1999), My Brother Jack (1998), The Border (1996), The Children of Men (2006), has received universal acclaim. The Stendhal Syndrome (1996), Bandits (1995), The Whores (1994), film utilized a number of new technologies and distinctive The Rebel (1993), Ferdinando, Man of Love (1990), Cinema techniques. The "roadside ambush" scene was shot in one Paradiso (1988) and La sposa era bellissima (1987). extended take utilizing a special camera rig invented by Doggicam systems, developed from the company's Power Slide LUMI CAVAZOS (b. December 21, 1968 in Monterrey, Nuevo system. For the scene, a vehicle was modified to enable seats to Leon, Mexico) appeared in the Mexican feature Romelia's tilt and lower actors out of the way of the camera. The Secret (1989) before landing the role that would prove her windshield of the car was designed to tilt out of the way to allow breakthrough in Alfonso Arau's Like Water for Chocolate. For camera movement in and out through the front windscreen. A all the seductive cookery that went on in tonight’s film, the crew of four, including Lubezki, rode on the roof. Children of sizzling didn’t really start until weeks after the wrap. It was only Men also features a seven-and-a-half-minute battle sequence when they returned to their respective homelands that the composed of roughly five seamless edits. Lubezki has been movie’s stars, Mexico-born Cavazos and Marco Leonardi, a nominated for eight Academy Awards for Best native Italian, realized the extent of their feelings for each other. Arrau—LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE—4

“I was missing Marco so much,” says Cavazos. “I realized I was historic series produced by Mexico´s Televisa network. Some in love with him.” Next up was an impressive comedic turn as a characters include Emperor Maximilian and more recently in Cuban motel maid romanced by Luke Wilson in Wes 2009 Francisco Primo de Verdad. His acting credits: Por Anderson's debut film Bottle Rocket (1996). While the role was Siempre Joan Sebastian (2016, TV Series), Cantinflas (2014), substantial and her work praised by critics, it didn't do as much Héroes verdaderos (2010), Mañana es para siempre (2008- to further her American film career as it could have, primarily 2009, TV Series), The Disorderly Maids of the Neighborhood because it required her to speak only Spanish and did not exhibit (2009, TV Series), Real Love (2003, TV Series), The Blue Room her improving English-language skills. That opportunity arose (2002), Fidel (2002, TV Movie), Original Sin (2001), Perfect with a featured turn in the 1997 TNT original movie Last Stand Target (1997, Video), Clear and Present Danger (1994), at Sabre River, a post-Civil War western starring Tom Selleck Immortal Combat (1994), Un arreglo civilizado para el divorcio and on the stage as photographer Tina Modotti in (1994, Short), Cronos (1993), The Harvest (1992), Like Water Andrea Centazzo's modern opera Tina in 1998. Her other acting for Chocolate (1992), Teresa (1989, TV Series), Don't Panic credits includePor Siempre Joan Sebastian (2016, TV Series), (1988) and Deathstalker and the Warriors from Hell (1988). Gritos de muerte y libertad (2010, TV Series), Viva High School Musical (2008), The Black Pimpernel (2007), 7 días (2005), ADA CARRASCO (b. September 14, 1912 in Mexico City, Exposed (2003), Never Too Young to Dream (2001), Sugar Mexico—d. April 5, 1994, age 81, in Mexico City, Mexico) Town (1999), Mascara (1999), Land of Milk & Honey (1996), started her career as an actress in 1952, and went on to make Bottle Rocket (1996), Bandits (1995), Like Water for Chocolate over 38 soap operas, including Los Ricos También Lloran in (1992), El secreto de Romelia (1988) and En un bosque de la 1979, Rosa Salvaje in 1987, De Frente al Sol in 1992, Más Allá China (1987, Short) del Puente in 1994. She died of a heart attack on 5 April 1994, fifteen days after her REGINA TORNÉ (b. character was killed off on October 2, 1945 in the soap, Marimar. She acted Tabasco, Mexico) is best in over 120 roles, some of known for her villain roles which are Un año perdido in telenovelas, though she (1993), Like Water for has been acting since 1966 Chocolate (1992), Atrapados is considered one of the (1990), El gran relajo Mexico’s most successful mexicano (1988), Pistoleros actresses. Among the soap famosos II (1986), Fieras en operas in which she has brama (1983), Un hombre starred are Red Sky (2011), llamado el diablo (1983), The Little Foxes (2010), Okey, Mister Pancho (1981), Love in Custody (2005), Pistoleros famosos (1981), For You (2002), As In the The Chosen One (1977), The Film (2001), Catalina y Wild Season (1971), Sebastián (1999), La Simplemente vivir (1970), chacala (1998), Agujetas Two Mules for Sister Sara color rose (1994). Some (1970), Memories of the of her film work includes Future (1969), Santo the Like Water for Chocolate (1992), Capulina Gossip Hot (1977), Silver Mask vs. The Ring Villains (1968), Maria Isabel (1966, The Big Cube (1969), Diabolical Pact (1969), The Chinese TV Series), México 1900 (1964, TV Series), Behind the Clouds Room (1968), and Infernal Angels (1968). (1962), Manicomio (1959), Mysteries of Black Magic (1958), The Bravados (1958), Soul of Steel (1957), Mr. Photographer MARIO IVÁN MARTÍNEZ is the son of actress Margarita Isabel. (1953), Women Who Work (1953), Forbidden Fruit (1953) and He attended the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Tres hombres en mi vida (1952). LAMDA under a British Council Scholarship. In the theater he has played Iago in the Mexican National Theatre Company ´s YARELI ARIZMENDI was born in Mexico City, but has resided production of Othello. Other credits include Tony in West Side in California since 1983. She received her BA in Political Story, Matt in The Fantastiks, Oberon in A Mid- Summer Science from the University of California, San Diego and her Night´s Dream, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet and Malvolio in MFA in Theater Arts from the same institution. Arizmendi is a Twelfth Night. Film credits include Alex Cox’s Death and the multi-talented artist who narrated both the English and Spanish Compass (1992), The Harvest (1992), Perfect Target (1997), versions of the book Like Water for Chocolate. She has also Clear and Present Danger (1994), Original Sin (2001) and The read for other audio titles including The Alchemist by Paulo Librarian (2014). For his performance in tonight’s film he Coelho and another Laura Esquivel novel The Law of Love. In received the Mexican Academy of Arts and Sciences`Ariel collaboration with National Public Radio and The Worlds of Award for Best Actor (Mexican Oscar) and the New York ACE Music Institute she completed a 13-part program, “The Award for Best Latin Actor. He has also played major roles in Universal Language Spoken in Local Dialects” featuring music Mexican television daytime drama. He played Sigfrido in from around the globe. During the shooting of Like Water for Teresa with Salma Hayek and has starred in every major Chocolate in Northern Mexico, Arizmendi worked on her Arrau—LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE—5

Master’s thesis “Whatever Happened to the Sleepy Mexican: The prospect of directing the film was daunting, even Four Ways to Be a Contemporary Mexican Artist”. She to a man who exudes self-confidence . It so happened that the graduated in 1992 and became a professor at Cal State San novel was written by his wife, screenwriter Laura Esquivel, and Marcos. In 2004, Arizmendi co-wrote and starred in the film the Arau thought a woman director might be better suited for a screenplay A Day Without a Mexican with her director/musician fanciful recipe-laden story seen from a female point of view. husband Sergio Arau. The film went on to become 2004’s "It was a big challenge for me because I considered the number one box office hit in Mexico and brought in 12.9 book so feminine that I was afraid I would not be sensitive million dollars in its first month and half of US release. In 2006 enough to get this onto the screen," Arau said. "But Laura she collaborated on Fast wanted me to direct it Food Nation (2006), directed because I was closer to the by Rick Linklater based on project than anyone else." Eric Schlosser’s book by the So he put himself same name. She worked on "at the service of the book," the film as an actress, dialect following it very closely, and coach and script made sure his wife, also consultant/translator. Her author of the screenplay, was additional acting credits: on the set as often as Everlasting (2016), Beyond possible. The result was a Paradise (2016), Road to film that has broken box- Juarez (2015), Mariachi office records in Mexico Gringo (2012), America while winning numerous (2011), Don't Let Me Drown international awards and (2009), Marta's Sex Tape widespread praise for (2006), Fast Food Nation skillfully capturing the (2006), A Day Without a novel's ""--the Mexican (2004), The Agency (2003, TV Series), Six Feet Under blending of the mundane with the fantastic that has become a (2003, TV Series), Girl in 3D (2003), 24 (2002, TV Series), hallmark of Latin American literature. Shadow Hours (2000), Carlo's Wake (1999), Nothing Sacred Made for $2 million in government loans, "Chocolate," (1997, TV Series), Love Always (1996), NYPD Blue (1996, TV which won 10 Ariels, the Mexican Oscar, is the most expensive Series), The Big Green (1995), Gunfighter's Moon (1995), movie ever produced in that country. Many expected the film to Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) and Like Water for Chocolate win an Academy Award nomination for best foreign film. The (1992). fact that it was overlooked, just as it was making its U.S. debut in New York to almost universal acclaim, left Arau "very CLAUDETTE MAILLÉ (b. November 11, 1964 in Mexico City, depressed," he said. "Everybody was sure we were going to be Mexico) is an actress, known for Like Water for Chocolate at least nominated." (1992), Gente bien (1997) and Quemar las naves (2007). Some Set in 1910 against the backdrop of the Mexican of her other acting credits are Yago (2016, TV Series), La revolution, "Chocolate" tells the story of Tita (Lumi Cavazos), Hermandad (2016, TV Series), Tiempos Felices (2014), Las the youngest of three sisters, who is required by tradition to Lágrimas (2013), The Last Death (2011), Nesio (2008), Only forgo marriage in order to care for her cold-hearted widowed Knows (2006), The Faces of the Moon (2002), Before Night mother, called Mama Elena (Regina Torne). Prevented from Falls (2000), Sucesos distantes (1996), A Trickle of Blood marrying Tita, her boyfriend, Pedro (Marco Leonardi), agrees to (1995), Novia que te vea (1994), and City of the Blind (1991). wed her elder sister (Yareli Arizmendi) in order to remain near the woman he loves. Terry Pristin, LA Times: “The Sweet Taste of 'Chocolate' : Tita, in her misery, repairs to the kitchen of her Director Alfonso Arau's Fanciful Film Has the Recipe for a mother's ranch, whipping up extraordinary dishes that mirror her Hit,” February 27, 1993 rebellious emotions--a wedding cake for her sister and Pedro Alfonso Arau has acted in American movies ranging that makes everybody sick and a rose-petal sauce that causes from "The Wild Bunch" to the more recent "Three Amigos" and another sister (Claudette Maille) almost to ignite with passion. "Romancing the Stone." Always, he finds to his disappointment, The film's title, drawn from a saying that is obscure he gets offered the same type of role. even in Spanish-speaking countries outside Mexico, dates back "I can play only bandidos, " he said ruefully during a to the Aztecs and refers to the exact moment when water recent interview in Los Angeles. "If you want to be a star, you reaches the perfect temperature for melting chocolate, Arau have to play the good guys." explained. But Arau is not exactly sitting in his office in Mexico "So when you are like water for chocolate, you are City waiting for Hollywood to turn him into the next Kevin about to explode in two ways: first, if you are furious, and Costner. A producer and director as well as an actor, he took on second, if you are erotically excited," the director said. his biggest project ever when he made the film version of one of In the United States, the title has been translated Mexico's best-selling novels, the 1990 "Como Agua Para literally, but publishers and movie distributors in other countries Chocolate" ("Like Water for Chocolate"). have not felt obliged to retain the original meaning. In Italy, for example, it is known as "Sweet Like Chocolate," while in Arrau—LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE—6

France it is referred to as "Bitter Chocolate." The English call it last of three daughters, must always serve her and therefore can "Like Water for Hot Chocolate." To the Poles it is "Red Roses never marry. and Tortillas." Years later, as a shy and watchful young woman, Tita Esquivel's favorite is the Japanese version, "The attracts the attention of Pedro (Marco Leonardi). This is one of Legend of the Rose Petal Sauce." "It's more poetic," her many romantic events that the film casts in amusingly food- husband said. related terms, as the narrator explains that when Tita felt Pedro's Arau, an ebullient, youthful and articulate man of 60 gaze on her shoulders, "she understood exactly how raw dough with a thick mustache, believes the movie has captivated diverse must feel when it comes into contact with boiling oil." audiences because the tradition that threatens to ruin Tita's life exists in many cultures. Tita herself is modeled after his wife's Pedro asks for Tita's hand in marriage, but his request great-great-aunt of the same name, who was forced to take care is denied by Mama Elena. But she persuades him to marry of her mother until the latter's death at the age of 92. Rosaura (Yareli Arizmendi), one of Tita's older sisters, instead. "Laura wanted to make an homage to her, but she Pedro agrees to this empty marriage as a means of staying close wrote a totally different Tita—a winner," he said. "The whole to his beloved. But the idea of his marrying Rosaura is roundly struggle of Tita is not to let criticized, once again by means the tradition be perpetuated." of a culinary metaphor. "You Arau has a simple can't just exchange tacos for explanation for why he chose enchiladas!" a household servant Leonardi, a non-Spanish- declares with indignation. Of speaking Italian who starred course, she turns out to be right. in the Academy Award- winning "Cinema Paradiso," Tita herself is typically to portray a Mexican acquiescent, resigned to her role heartthrob. "Because I didn't as a dutiful spinster. But then, find an actor in Mexico who with the help of Nacha (Ada was so beautiful." Carrasco), the elderly cook who Leonardi learned his presides over the story before lines phonetically but the and after her death as spiritual Spanish dialogue in "Chocolate" was dubbed by a Mexican adviser, Tita works on a wedding meal. Somehow, when actor. "Pedro was the most difficult character. . . . The audience saturated with Tita's tears, the food becomes so infused with her hates him," Arau reflected. "Why doesn't he just grab Tita and longing and frustration that the wedding guests are overcome. run away? But he's a gentleman, he follows the rules. All are simultaneously taken sick, mourning for their own lost "Why is Tita in love with this guy? Because he is loves. beautiful. Beauty has to do with romantic love." "Like Water for Chocolate" takes its title from a Mexican method of making hot chocolate by boiling and re- Janet Maslin, “Emotions So Strong You Can Taste Them,” boiling water with cocoa, until this substance becomes sweetly NY Times, February 17, 1983: overagitated, much as Tita herself feels in the presence of her Food and passion create a sublime alchemy in "Like new brother-in-law. In one of the film's most wildly imaginative Water for Chocolate," a Mexican film whose characters episodes, Tita pricks her fingers on thorns and thus turns a meal experience life so intensely that they sometimes literally of quails cooked in rose-petal sauce into the pure physical smolder. The kitchen becomes a source of such witchcraft that a embodiment of her desire for Pedro. At this point in the story, fervently prepared meal can fill diners with lust or grief or food is described as "voluptuously, ardently fragrant and utterly nausea, depending upon the cook's prevailing mood. sensual," and ordinary nourishment is truly beside the point. This film, a lively family saga that is centered on The effects of this dish are so potent that Gertrudis forbidden love and spans several generations, relies so (Claudette Maille), Tita's other sister, feels her temperature rise enchantingly upon fate, magic and a taste for the supernatural and rushes to an outdoor shower to cool off. The dinner has so that it suggests Gabriel Garcia Marquez in a cookbook-writing overheated Gertrudis that her body actually gives off smoke. mode. (The best-selling Mexican novel by Laura Esquivel, who Then the boards surrounding the shower catch fire and Gertrudis also wrote the screenplay, interweaves the fanciful story of is carried off naked by one of Pancho Villa's soldiers, who has "Like Water for Chocolate" with actual recipes.) Whether you also fallen under the quail-and-rose-petal spell. Incidentally, approach this swift, eventful tale on the culinary or the Gertrudis's eventual fate establishes the story's faith in feminine cinematic level, prepare for a treat. power as a force that extends well beyond the kitchen. "Like Water for Chocolate," which opens today, is the Miracles like that of the quail and roses are presented story of Tita (Lumi Cavazos), whose way of connecting cuisine almost matter of factly by the film's producer and director, with strong emotion truly begins at birth. Tita is born on a Alfonso Arau, who acted in "El Topo" and "The Wild Bunch." kitchen table to a mother who weeps so profusely, a narrator (Mr. Arau is also the husband of Ms. Esquivel.) His direction maintains, that the residue of her tears yields an enormous bag can be seen as refreshingly plain, especially in light of the of salt. This formidable mother, known as Mama Elena (Regina curious events the film often depicts, events that work best Torne), has endured her share of hardships and is determined to without stylistic flourishes. Strong passions produce sparks and make her youngest child do the same. She decrees that Tita, the lightning; a colossal knitted bedspread that expresses Tita's Arrau—LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE—7 misery takes on epic proportions; one party scene somehow (She returns many years later, a famous revolutionary carries the celebrants 20 years forward in time. All of this is leader.) "Like Water for Chocolate" is based on a novel by presented with the simplicity of a folk tale, with exaggerated Laura Esquivel. Like "Bye Bye Brazil" and parts of "El Norte," events blending effortlessly into those that seem real. it continues the tradition of magical realism that is central to Miss Cavazos's performance as Tita is reticent and sly, modern Latin film and literature. It begins with the assumption perfectly in keeping with the film's muted manner. Tita never that magic can change the fabric of the real world, if it is overreacts, preferring to bide her time and marvel silently at transmitted through the emotions of people in love. And Lumi outward events that confirm her intuition. Mr. Leonardi, as the Cavazos, as Tita, is the perfect instrument for magic, with her person who shares many of Tita's thoughts, enhances the film's single-minded lifelong devotion to Pedro - a love that transcends romantic mood while also evolving from object of desire to even their separation, when the evil Mama Elena dispatches petulant brother-in-law. Miss Torne carries Mama Elena's Pedro and Rosaura to another town, where their baby dies for sternness to a suitably fierce extreme. lack of Tita's cooking. Also appearing in the story, eventually to bedevil Mr. The movie takes the form of an old family legend, and Leonardi's Pedro, is John Brown (Mario Ivan Martinez), the the narrator is apparently Esquivel. It gains the poignancy of an doctor whose American Indian heritage has made him privy to a old story that is already over, so that the romance takes on a whole different strain of folklore. It is he who compares the kind of grandeur. What has survived, however, is a tattered but human spirit to a box of matches, suggesting how sad life can be beautiful old book containing all of Aunt Tita's recipes, and who if those matches are allowed to grow soggy. The film itself has not felt some sort of connection with the past when reading eagerly embraces the opposite notion, presenting a torrid, slow- or preparing a favorite recipe from a loved one who has now burning love affair and never losing its own bright, original passed on? Imagine, for example, melting some butter and flame. browning two cloves of garlic in it. Then adding two drops of attar of roses, the petals of six roses, two tablespoons of honey , “Like Water for Chocolate,” April 2, 1993: and 12 thinly sliced chestnuts to the mixture, and rubbing it all In Mexico, so I have learned, hot chocolate is made over six tiny quail and browning them in the oven. Serve, of with water, not milk. The water is brought to a boil and then the course, with the remaining rose petals. And stand back. chocolate is spooned into it. A person in a state of sexual excitement is said to be "like water for chocolate." And now here is a movie where everyone seems at the boil, their lives centering around a woman whose sensual life is carried out in the kitchen, and whose food is so magical it can inspire people to laugh, or cry, or run naked from the house to be scooped up and carried away by a passing revolutionary. "Like Water for Chocolate" creates its own intense world of passion and romance, and adds a little comedy and a lot of quail, garlic, honey, chiles, mole, cilantro, rose petals and corn meal. It takes place in a Mexican border town, circa 1910, where a young couple named Tita and Pedro are deeply in love. But they are never to marry. Mama Elena, Tita's fearsome mother, forbids it. She sees the duty of her youngest daughter to stay always at home and take care of her. Tita is heartbroken— especially when Pedro marries Rosaura, her oldest sister. But there is a method to Pedro's treachery. During a dance at the wedding, he whispers into Tita's ear that he has Magic Realism (from Wikipedia) actually married Rosaura in order to be always close to Tita. He Magical realism, magic realism, or marvelous still loves only her. Weeping with sadness and joy, Tita prepares realism is literature, painting, film, and theater that, while the wedding cake, and as her tears mingle with the granulated encompassing a range of subtly different concepts, share in sugar, sifted cake flour, beaten eggs and grated peel of lime, common an acceptance of magic in the rational world. It is also they transform the cake into something enchanting that causes sometimes called fabulism, in reference to the conventions of all of the guests at the feast to begin weeping at what should be fables, myths, and allegory. Of the four terms, Magical realism an occasion for joy. is the most commonly used and refers to literature in The movie is narrated by Tita's great niece, who particular:1–5 that portrays magical or unreal elements as a describes how, through the years, Aunt Tita's kitchen produces natural part in an otherwise realistic or mundane environment. even more extraordinary miracles. When Pedro gives her a The terms are broadly descriptive rather than critically dozen red roses, for example, she prepares them with quail and rigorous. Matthew Strecher defines magic realism as "what honey, and the recipe is such an aphrodisiac that everyone at the happens when a highly detailed, realistic setting is invaded by table is aroused, and smoke actually pours from the ears of the something too strange to believe." Many writers are categorized middle sister, Gertrudis. She races to the outhouse, which as "magical realists," which confuses the term and its wide catches fire, and then, tearing off her burning clothes, is swept definition. Magical realism is often associated with Latin into the saddle of a passing bandolero. American literature, particularly authors including Gabriel García Márquez, Miguel Angel Asturias, and . In Arrau—LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE—8

English literature, its chief exponents include Salman Rushdie magical realist, he failed to acknowledge either Carpentier or and Alice Hoffman. Pietri for bringing Roh's magic realism to Latin America. Etymology Borges is often seen as a predecessor of magical realists, with While the term magical realism first appeared in only Flores considering him a true magical realist.:16–18 1955,:16 the term Magischer Realismus, translated as magic After Flores's essay, there was a resurgence of interest realism, was first used by German art critic Franz Roh in 1925 in marvelous realism, which, after the Cuban revolution of to refer to a painterly style also known as Neue Sachlichkeit (the 1959, led to the term magical realism being applied to a new New Objectivity), an alternative to expressionism championed type of literature known for matter-of-fact portrayal of magical by fellow German museum director Gustav Hartlaub.:9–11 Roh events.:18 identified magic realism's accurate detail, smooth photographic Literature clarity, and portrayal of the 'magical' nature of the rational Characteristics world. It reflects the uncanniness of people and our modern The extent to which the characteristics below apply to a technological environment.:9–10 Roh believed that magic realism given magic realist text varies. Every text is different and was related to, but distinct from, surrealism, due to magic employs a smattering of the qualities listed here. However, they realism's focus on the material object and the actual existence of accurately portray what one might expect from a magic realist things in the world, as opposed to surrealism's more cerebral, text. psychological and subconscious reality.:12 Magic realism was Fantastical elements later used to describe the uncanny realism by American painters Magical realism portrays fantastical events in an such as Ivan Albright, Paul Cadmus, George Tooker and otherwise realistic tone. It brings fables, folk tales, and myths Viennese-born Henry Koerner, along other artists during the into contemporary social relevance. Fantasy traits given to 1940s and 1950s. However, in contrast with its use in literature, characters, such as levitation, telepathy, and telekinesis, help to magic realist art does not often include overtly fantastic or encompass modern political realities that can be magical content, but rather looks at the mundane through a phantasmagorical. hyper-realistic and often Real-world setting mysterious lens. The existence of German magic fantasy elements in the real realist paintings influenced world provides the basis for the Italian writer Massimo magical realism. Writers do not Bontempelli, who has been invent new worlds but reveal called the first to apply the magical in this world, as magic realism to writing, was done by Gabriel García aiming to capture the Márquez who wrote the fantastic, mysterious nature seminal work of the style, One of reality. In 1926 he Hundred Years of Solitude. In founded the magic realist the binary world of magical magazine 900.Novecento, realism, the supernatural realm and his writings influenced blends with the natural, Belgian magic realist familiar world. writers Johan Daisne and Authorial reticence Hubert Lampo.:13–14 Authorial reticence is Roh's magic realism also influenced writers in Hispanic the "deliberate withholding of information and explanations America, where it was translated as realismo mágico in 1927. about the disconcerting fictitious world". The narrator is Venezuelan writer Arturo Uslar-Pietri, who had known indifferent, a characteristic enhanced by this absence of Bontempelli, wrote influential magic realist short stories in the explanation of fantastic events; the story proceeds with "logical 1930s and 40s that focused on the mystery and reality of how precision" as if nothing extraordinary took place. Magical we live.:14–15 Luis Leal attests that Pietri seemed to have been events are presented as ordinary occurrences; therefore, the the first to adopt the term realismo mágico in Hispanic America reader accepts the marvelous as normal and common. in 1948. French-Russian Cuban writer , who Explaining the supernatural world or presenting it as rejected Roh's magic realism as tiresome pretension, developed extraordinary would immediately reduce its legitimacy relative his related concept lo real maravilloso, or marvelous realism, in to the natural world. The reader would consequently disregard 1949.:14 Maggie Ann Bowers writes that marvelous realist the supernatural as false testimony. literature and art expresses "the seemingly opposed perspectives Plenitude of a pragmatic, practical and tangible approach to reality and an In his essay "The Baroque and the Marvelous Real", acceptance of magic and superstition" within an environment of Cuban writer Alejo Carpentier defined the baroque by a lack of differing cultures.:2–3 emptiness, a departure from structure or rules, and an The term magical realism, as opposed to magic "extraordinary" abundance (plenitude) of disorienting detail realism, first emerged in the 1955 essay "Magical Realism in (citing Mondrian as its opposite). From this angle, Carpentier Spanish American Fiction" by critic Angel Flores to refer to views the baroque as a layering of elements, which translates writing that combines aspects of magic realism and marvelous easily into the post-colonial or transcultural Latin American realism. While Flores named Jorge Luis Borges as the first atmosphere that he emphasizes in The Kingdom of this World. Arrau—LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE—9

"America, a continent of symbiosis, mutations... mestizaje, by her mother. "Her unrequited love and ostracism from the engenders the baroque," made explicit by elaborate Aztec family lead her to harness her extraordinary powers of imbuing temples and associative Nahuatl poetry. These mixing her emotions to the food she makes. In turn, people who eat her ethnicities grow together with the American baroque; the space food enact her emotions for her. For example, after eating a in between is where the "marvelous real" is seen. Marvelous: wedding cake Tita made while suffering from a forbidden love, not meaning beautiful and pleasant, but extraordinary, strange, the guests all suffer from a wave of longing. The Mexican Juan and excellent. Such a complex system of layering— Rulfo pioneered the exposition through a non-linear structure encompassed in the Latin American "boom" novel, such as One with his short novel Pedro Páramo that tells the story of Comala Hundred Years of Solitude—aims towards "translating the scope both as a lively town in times of the eponymous Pedro Páramo of America". and as a ghost town through the eyes of his son Juan Preciado Hybridity who returns to Comala to fulfil a promise to her dead mother. Magical realism plot lines characteristically employ In the English-speaking world, major authors include hybrid multiple planes of reality that take place in British Indian writer Salman Rushdie, African American "inharmonious arenas of such opposites as urban and rural, and novelists Toni Morrison and Gloria Naylor, Latinos, as Ana Western and Castillo, Rudolfo indigenous"…. Anaya, Daniel Political Olivas, and Helena critique Maria Viramontes, Magic Native American realism contains an authors Louise "implicit criticism Erdrich and of society, Sherman Alexie; particularly the English author elite". Especially Louis de Bernières with regard to Latin and English feminist America, the style writer Angela breaks from the Carter. Perhaps the inarguable best known is discourse of Rushdie, whose "privileged centers "language form of of literature". This magical realism is a mode primarily straddles both the about and for "ex- surrealist tradition centrics": the geographically, socially and economically of magic realism as it developed in Europe and the mythic marginalized. Therefore, magic realism's ‘alternative world’ tradition of magical realism as it developed in Latin America". works to correct the reality of established viewpoints (like Morrison's most notable work, Beloved, tells the story of a realism, naturalism, modernism). Magic realist texts, under this mother who, haunted by the ghost of her child, learns to cope logic, are subversive texts, revolutionary against socially with memories of her traumatic childhood as an abused slave dominant forces. Alternatively, the socially dominant may and the burden of nurturing children into a harsh and brutal implement magical realism to disassociate themselves from their society. Jonathan Safran Foer uses magical realism in exploring "power discourse". Theo D’haen calls this change in perspective the history of the stetl and Holocaust in Everything Is "decentering."…. Illuminated. Major authors and works In Norway, the writers Erik Fosnes Hansen, Jan Although critics and writers debate which authors or Kjærstad as well as the young novelist, Rune Salvesen, have works fall within the magical realism genre, the following marked themselves as premier writers of magical realism, authors represent the narrative mode. Within the Latin American something which has been seen as very un-Norwegian…. world, the most iconic of magical realist writers are Jorge Luis Film Borges[citation needed] and Nobel Laureate Gabriel García Márquez, Magical realism is not an officially recognized film whose novel One Hundred Years of Solitude was an instant genre, but characteristics of magic realism present in literature worldwide success. can also be found in many films with fantasy elements. These García Márquez confessed: "My most important characteristics may be presented matter-of-factly and occur problem was destroying the line of demarcation that separates without explanation. Many films have magical realist narrative what seems real from what seems fantastic." Isabel Allende was and events that contrast between real and magical elements, or the first Latin American woman writer recognized outside the different modes of production. This device explores the reality continent. Her most well-known novel, The House of the Spirits, of what exists.:109–11 Fredrick Jameson, "On Magic Realism in is arguably similar to García Márquez's style of magical realist Film" advances a hypothesis that magical realism in film is a writing.:43 Another notable novelist is Laura Esquivel, whose formal mode that is constitutionally depended on a type of Like Water for Chocolate tells the story of the domestic life of historical raw material in which disjunction is structurally women living on the margins of their families and society. The present. Like Water for Chocolate begins and ends with the first novel's protagonist, Tita, is kept from happiness and marriage person narrative to establishing the magical realism storytelling Arrau—LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE—10 frame. Telling a story from a child point of view, the historical magical realism, the most famous of which is Time of the gaps and holes perspective, and with cinematic color Gypsies. heightening the presence, are magical realist tools in films. New media Other films that convey elements of magic realism are Amélie, In electronic literature, early author Michael Joyce's The Green Mile, Beasts of the Southern Wild, Undertow, Afternoon, a story deploys the ambiguity and dubious narrator Birdman, The Mistress of Spices, a number of films by Woody characteristic of high modernism, along with some suspense and Allen, including Alice, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Midnight in romance elements, in a story whose meaning could change Paris and To Rome With Love. Most of the films directed by dramatically depending on the path taken through its lexias on Terry Gilliam are strongly influenced by magic realism. The each reading. More recently, Pamela Sacred perpetuated the animated films of Hayao Miyazaki often utilize magic realism. genre through La Voie de l'ange, a continuation of The Diary of Some of the films of Emir Kusturica also contain elements of Anne Frank written in French by a fictional character from her Venetian Cell hypertext saga.

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Dec 6 Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck The Tourist 2010

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