German screenwriter and director Sandra Nettelbeck makes her theatrical feature-film debut with this offering. She has done quite a bit of work in German television. Her TV film Mammamia was awarded the Max Ophüls Prize for Best Film and Best Script.
This movie focuses on the life of a German chef named Martha (Martina Gedeck). She works in a small gourmet restaurant in Hamburg and lives to create culinary masterpieces. She is an introvert and has hardly any private life. Her life is turned a different direction when her sister, a single mother, is killed in an automobile accident. Martha has to take care of her niece Lina (Maxime Foerste), who has been understandably traumatized by the tragedy.
A colleague of Martha's named Mario (Sergio Castellitto) brings light (and pasta) into the lives of these two ladies. He turns from a rival into a loving friend. Just as a romance starts to blossom between Martha and Mario, Lina's long-lost father turns up. He wants to take Lina back with him to Italy. Martha has quite a big decision to make.
There have been many positive reviews of this film. Most of them mention the wonderful performances by the three main characters. It has been shown at film festivals worldwide and now gets a theatrical release in the United States. This film has won several awards, and was a nominee at the 2002 German Film Awards for Outstanding Feature Film and Outstanding Individual Achievement-Actress. (Marty Doskins/BOP)
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