Mostly Martha

Starring:Oliver Broumis, Sibylle Canonica, Sergio Castellitto, Rocco Dressel, Jerome Ducornau, Maxime Foerste, Gerhard Garbers, Martina Gedeck, Leonhard Mazohl, Diego Ribon, Angela Schmidt, W.D. Sprenger, Adrian Stein, Katja Studt, Ulrich Thomsen, Victoria Trauttmansdorff, Antonio Wannek, August Zirner, Idil Ãœner
Studio: Paramount
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

Mostly Martha is a rich addition to the recent banquet of movies about food. Martha (Martina Gedeck), the domineering chef at a fancy restaurant, has her rigid routine broken when her sister dies in a car wreck, leaving behind her 9-year-old daughter Lina (Maxime Foerste). Martha takes the girl in, but has no gift for maternal expression; she offers Lina food, but Lina refuses to eat. Meanwhile, her control over her kitchen is threatened when her boss hires a buoyant Italian named Mario (Sergio Castellitto) to assist, and Martha finds herself flailing in an effort to reestablish control of her life. While Mostly Martha may not hold many surprises, the writing, direction, and particularly the acting are as sumptuous and sensual as the cooking and eating. The relationship between Martha and Lina is portrayed with all its awkwardness and complications intact; the result is wonderfully affecting. --Bret Fetzer

Customer Reviews:

A nicely done comedy-drama from Germany.......2007-04-30

"Mostly Martha" is well-done comedy/drama in which star Martina Gedeck does an outstanding job of portraying her complex character, Martha. Many reviewers have commented on the food metaphor in the movie, and there is no doubt that the sensual pleasure of food is highlighted here. The romantic-comedy elements are also present in the initial conflicts, growing respect, and eventual relationship between Martha and Mario. However, this movie is far more interesting and complex than the usual romantic comedy.

Gedeck does an outstanding job of portraying all of Martha's vulnerabilities, which is what makes both main storylines - her relationship with Mario and her relationship with her niece, Lina - so affecting. Martha is an insecure woman who excels at cooking, and she will not take any risks in life unless she can put her cooking talents to use in the process. We see this in her interactions with her therapist and her new next-door neighbor (who initially seems as though he may become her romantic interest). When Martha's sister is killed in a car accident and Martha takes in her niece, Lina, her only initial attempts at consoling the girl involve trying to get her to eat. Indeed, Martha is what can best be described as an obsessive control freak when it comes to cooking and eating.

Having said that, I must emphasize again that Gedeck does such an outstanding acting job that the viewer remains sympathetic to Martha (with perhaps the exception of one scene that involves Lina and school) throughout the film, which is rarely the case between such obsessive characters and viewers. We understand that she fears openness, closeness, and - above all - rejection.

The dramatic and comedic elements are nicely interwoven so that the viewer is never overwhelmed by some of sadder aspects of the story but also doesn't forget that the story involves a young girl who has lost her mother. The comedic elements are present throughout the movie, though they are rarely of the laugh-out-loud style (except the scene in which Martha hyperventilates when she sees what a mess Mario is making of her kitchen - it is Martha's neuroses that provide much of the comedy, as well as some of the drama, in the film). The writer(s) and director, Sandra Nettelbeck, provide a model example of how comedy is effectively used to relieve the tension created by dramatic incidents.

I highly recommend this film for viewers who enjoy movies that are character-driven rather than action-driven. I also commend the filmmakers for showing restraint and not including the (usually inevitable) sex scene that most such relationship movies have. My personal beliefs still don't agree with the implied sex, but thanks to the filmmakers' better judgment the movie remains a true romantic comedy rather than becoming a sex comedy.

refreshing german movie.......2007-04-10

If you can get over the bad lighting and the horrible saxophone music, this movie will surely touch you. I am looking forward to the english version with Katherine Zeta Jones and Aaron Eckhart!

A real love story.......2007-03-14

I like the story, I like the acting, and I like the joy with which
Martha creates her masterpieces in the kitchen.
There are no crimes, no car races, no obscenities, and no millionaires
in this film; so what is it about?
Without revealing a single bit of the plot, let's just say
the film is about emotional intelligence.
Finally, I completely agree with the review by Eugene A. Schubert
written on February 7, 2007.

A movie with class and a little humor ..........2007-02-08

and a lot of good food! A relaxing yet original story
that isn't afraid to be quiet and take things slow
with some interesting, yet not artifical, twists.

Mostly Martha.......2007-01-12

One of the best and most entertaining movies of all time. Highly Recommended. A true love story. Touching and moving.

Average customer rating:

A nicely done comedy-drama from Germany
refreshing german movie
A real love story
A movie with class and a little humor ...
Mostly Martha

Mostly Martha [Region 2]

ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Comedy | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

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ASIN: B0000C6653

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

A nicely done comedy-drama from Germany.......2007-04-30

refreshing german movie.......2007-04-10

If you can get over the bad lighting and the horrible saxophone music, this movie will surely touch you. I am looking forward to the english version with Katherine Zeta Jones and Aaron Eckhart!

A real love story.......2007-03-14

A movie with class and a little humor ..........2007-02-08

and a lot of good food! A relaxing yet original story
that isn't afraid to be quiet and take things slow
with some interesting, yet not artifical, twists.

Mostly Martha.......2007-01-12

One of the best and most entertaining movies of all time. Highly Recommended. A true love story. Touching and moving.

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