The In-Depth Film Analysis of Like Water for Chocolate

Like Water for Chocolate is a movie directed by Alfonso Arau in 1992 based on the novel Como Agua Para Chocolate by Laura Esquivel. Laura Esquivel is a Mexican writer and screenplay writer. She begins her profession as a screenplay writer, writing plays for the kindergarten children for whom she taught. She has also written several kids’ television programs. Her debut novel Como Agua Para chocolate has become a blockbuster in Mexico and the United States, and it was later developed into a top-notch film. She has also incorporated magical realism, metaphors and symbolism to describe the emotions and feelings of her characters. This adds discrete quality to the film and to novel. The film is artistically crammed with many symbols which suggest the theme of the fervent and influential narrative originally told in form the of novel by Laura Esquivel. The centre of the story surrounds food. The symbolism of food in the movie is a depiction of hard work, the sense of feminism, responsibilities, roles, comfort, and craze.

The title of the film Like Water for Chocolate refers to ‘the boiling water to make hot chocolate’. Laura is married to Alfonso Arau, a film director and producer. The film is also considered as a ‘food film’ because food is the dominant symbol here. The movie is set in Mexico during the early nineteen hundreds. The novel is written at the time of Mexican Revolution. So the impact of the revolution can be seen in the film too. Anne Bower has said that “Food has been part of film since films began, yet only recently have we given extended attention to the many and sometimes startling ways that food functions in movies”(1-13).

The novel was originally written in Spanish and later translated into English. The book and the movie are runaway successes and Laura has received a ‘Mexican Academy of Motion Pictures Award’. The film is considered as first Mexican film based on food and it also elucidates the relation between cooking, food and emotion. As Laura has brought up in a conventional Mexican family, she gives more importance to her culture and tradition. It is reflected in all her writings. She often inscribes that “Destiny is a path you must follow, or travel, and it is up to you to decide how you are going to travel it.” She has got frustrated because some of the humour in her novels does not translate into English properly.

There are many prominent characters in the movie. Some of them are Lumi Cavazos, a famous Mexican actress who has won ‘Best Actress Award’ plays the role of Tita De La Garza, Regina Torne who acted as Mama Elena is a famous Mexican actress and a comedian, and Marco Leonardi is an Italian actor who acted as Pedro Murquiz. Through the film, the author has made the spectators to visualize the effect or emotions one gets after consuming the foodstuff that is prepared by the protagonist, Tita. The opening scene of the film shows the birth of Tita and the entire story has been narrated by Tita’s grandniece. Tita is so sensitive to onions. Nacha, the old servant tells that she could hear the cry of the baby even it is in her mother’s womb.

Tita, the youngest daughter of De La Garza family hopelessly fell in love with Pedro. She is not allowed to marry him because of a family tradition. In early Mexican convention, the youngest daughter of the family must stay single and take care for her mother until her death. When Pedro’s father approached Mama Elena about Pedro and Tita’s marriage, Elena tells them that Pedro can have the hands of Rosaura but not Tita. When Pedro and Rosaura’s marriage is arranged Tita’s emotions are portrayed in the novel as,

When she first felt his hot gaze burning her skin. She turned her head, and her eyes met Pedro’s. It was then she understood how dough feels when it is plunged into boiling oil. The heat that invaded her body was so real she was afraid she would start to bubble - her face, her stomach, her heart, her breasts- like batter, and unable to endure his gaze she lowered her eyes. (18-19) The particular scene in the film describes the concept of love between Lumi Cavazos and Marco Leonardi who plays the role of Tita and Pedro seems to be so realistic and authentic. This scene serves as a good example that the director has chosen the perfect actors for the characters.

Even after Pedro marries Rosaura, Tita and Pedro’s love remains same as time progresses, their love for one another grow stronger. Tita is forced to accept the fact that she could not marry her love and also to keep her feelings for Pedro concealed. Lumi has wonderfully expressed her sadness as if she has lost her real love in her life. Tita is in great pain and yet tries to move on with her life still, she cannot because she happens to meet Pedro daily. Mama Elena frequently warns both of them and she always keep an eye on them. Tita cannot express her feelings to anyone so she bares her feelings to the food she prepares. Mark Twain in his Mark Twain on Common Sense: Timeless Advice and Words of Wisdom from America’s Most Revered Humorist said that, “When the time comes that a man has had his dinner, then the true man comes to the surface”. As true to this lines, the food relinquishes an emotional change in the people who ever have a bite of it. Here Tita turns out to be the transmitter of emotions and the other people who eat the dishes prepared by her have become the receivers of the same emotions. This happens several times throughout the movie.

The feelings of a person can never be explained in words. The listener can only hear them but they cannot feel the same as the person who has experienced it. They can never really find the right words to make them fully understand. But through the film, Alfonso has made the spectators to feel the same as the characters. The readers might get baffled while reading the novel but they could understand and perceive the emotions clearly while watching the movie. While watching the film the audience have no idea what is going to happen next.

Throughout the movie Tita grows as a woman who tries to seek her own identity. Finally she stops obeying her mother and decides to live her own life. Tita has a relationship with a doctor named John Brown who nurses her kindly when she is depressed. At the end of the movie, Tita and Pedro finally get to be together. This shows that true love is forever and never ends up. The movie opens with her birth and ends with her death. The plot is very interesting and true about life. It is a story not only about love, but also about the sufferings and growth of an individual woman. In the movie, Alfonso Arau paints an awe-inspiring picture of the transition and about the strong love that exists between Tita and Pedro. The actors are very convincing and the music is very expressive. For example, when Tita cooks, her emotions can be felt by the audience. The spectators see Tita grow up right in front of their eyes. It is a story that makes you laugh and cry at the same time. It definitely shows that love conquers all.

Though the film is simple to figure out it has a lot of underlying meaning in it. It is impressive, rebellious, entertaining, and filled with the delight. The soft tones of light and music create a rural Mexican feel present throughout the film. The setting of the film and the music enthralled the beauty of human emotions. Though it is a food film it concentrates more on the character relationships than the food.

Food plays a significant role in the story because it connects senses with past emotions and to tradition. The only draw back is that the movie does not illustrate the recipes as well as the book does. Throughout the film, the audience can feel how the choice of a particular dish helps to characterize not only the female character, but also the Mexican national identity as a whole. The cinematography of the film reveals a great range, beauty and astounding. The film's lighting styles are fruitful in establishing the more realistic ranch house where many of the interior scenes take place. The director has focused more on Tita’s ability to connect to people through food. The film has been a wonderful feast to the audience whoever have interest in such genre.