Like Water for Chocolate

I really enjoyed this film. It brought out many emotions in myself, anger, frustration, love, hurt, pain, jealously, exasperation, giving up hope, settling, exhilaration, etc.



I have not heard of Magical Realism(MR) before this class, however, this film had several examples of it. I guess the one that stands out the most was in the first scene. Mama Elena is cutting up onions and crying, placenta breaks, Tita is born. From all of the tears there were ten pounds of salt left behind to be used for cooking. The tears also signify how Tita was to be "cursed with sadness" for the rest of her life. MaMa Elena has dedicated Tita's life to taking care of her in her old age and not to ever marry. Tita doesn't agree with it and thinks it's absurd.



Tita displays her true feelings in her cooking, mostly loneliness and a longing for love. While making Rosaura's wedding cake she hallucinates and cries into the batter and icing. Nacha takes samples to make sure the tears have not ruined it, she is found dead clutching a picture of her lost lover. At the wedding reception, people felt sad and heart sick from the cake(MR).

Tita must deliver Rosura's son Roberto because there wasn't a doctor available. During this, Nacha help to guide her in spirit(MR). Tita starts to produce breast milk to care for Roberto when Rosaura cannot (MR). Pedro brings roses to Tita for being the head cook for a year. While preparing dinner, Nacha coaches Tita on how to make Quail and a sauce with the rose petals. Tita cooks with sexuality and intense need for love for Pedro. During dinner Pedro feels what she put into it and calls it "The Nectar of the Gods". MaMa Elena calls it "too salty" so as not to agree. Gertrudis after eating takes off naked, jumps onto a horse with Juan, and makes out with him as they ride off to join the Mexican Revolution.(MR)



Pedro and Rosaura are forced to leave because MaMa Elena feels Pedro and Tita are becoming too close. She also doesn't like Tita caring so much for Roberto.

Word is sent that Roberto has died from lack of nutrition. Tita knows that it is because she could not breast feed him.

Tita then has a nervous breakdown and meets Dr. John Brown. He recovers her and have established a bond.They decide to marry even though Tita still loves Pedro. After learning there was an invasion of the ranch, Tita returns to care for her mother. MaMa Elena is downright evil to Tita and believes she is trying to kill her by poisoning the food. MaMa Elena takes an overdose of an emetic and dies. Tita believes she died from frustration of love, just like she is frustrated.



Rosaura births girl and wants to name it after Tita, she adamantly refuses. Rosaura also says that the baby, later named Esperanza, will have to take care of her in age due to tradition. Tita vows to not let it happen. Pedro and Tita make love after Pedro learns of her getting married. Tita believes she is pregnant. MaMa Elena's ghost appears and curses Tita for what she has done(MR).

Gertrudis comes home as a General. MaMa Elena appears again cursing Tita(MR).Tita finally stands up for herself and tells her mother to go away, and that she hates her. As her mother disappears she catches Pedro on fire(MR). Tita nurses Pedro back to health.

Tita tells John about losing her virginity and cancels the wedding. John still wants to marry her despite what happened.

22 years later Esperanza and Johns son, Alex, marry. Rosaura had died from G.I. problems. Tita and Pedro can finally be together without any complications. They make love and Pedro dies immediately from intense passion. Pedros' soul had returned to it's divine origin. Tita will not live without Pedro, so she eats matches and they spontaneously com bust consuming both of them. Their spirits are joined in a lighted tunnel, representing the eternity they will have together, finally. The ranch is destroyed completely, well almost. The daughter of Esperanza finds the recipe book with the story of their love.