Mostly Martha (2001)

Intense, gripping, stylish and poignant

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

There is definitely an excellent idea hidden in the background of the film. Unfortunately, it's difficult to find it.

This is a marvelous film with a wonderful story filmed mostly in Germany, and in German and Italian languages. English subtitles make it easy to follow this drama and comedy romance. What does Martha Klein know about raising children? She barely has been an aunt – just seeing her sister and niece, Lina, occasionally. Martha is a master chef. She's the "second best" chef in Hamburg, Germany, according to her boss, Frida, who owns Lido. That's the gourmet restaurant in Hamburg, where Martha rules supreme in the kitchen. But, Martha is short not only on parenting skills. She is a high-strung perfectionist whose interpersonal skills are almost nil. After Martha's repeated instances of scenes she creates with customers, Frida requires her to see a therapist. She is obsessed with food mastery, and her sessions turn into humorous diversions about food. Her life enters a new phase when she learns that her sister and niece were in a car wreck, and her sister was killed. Now, she has nine-year old Lina to care for. The young girl understandably is in shock, and Martha's stern, firm ways do nothing to help her. After returning to work, she is furious to learn that Frida has hired an Italian sous chef, Mario, to replace the pregnant Lea who is about to give birth. Mario is an easygoing, chipper character who wins the hearts of the kitchen staff except Martha. She dislikes him and thinks he may be a threat to her job. Martha has been unable to find a babysitter for Lina, so she takes her to work with her. The girl doesn't eat, even though Martha has made gourmet meals for the two of them at home. Finally, in the kitchen, with Mario's bright demeanor and lively banter and music, Lina eats a plate of spaghetti that Mario places near her. In time the girl takes to Mario, and Martha begins to melt. More happens over time, with Mario cooking a meal for the three of them at Martha's apartment. Toward the end, Martha locates Lina's father who has his own family in Italy. He and his wife welcome Lina into their family. But Martha soon misses her niece. She and Mario have become close and he convinces her to move to Italy to be near Lina. On their drive down, Martha says she has reservations about moving, and Mario says something like, "Oh sure! Why would you want to leave Hamburg where it rains all the time to go to sunny Italy?"All of the cast for this film are superb. Most are German actors. Martina Gedeck plays Martha, Sibylle Canonica is Frida, Katja Studt is Lea, August Zirner is Martha's therapist and Maxime Foerste plays niece Lina. Italian actor Sergio Castellitto plays Mario. An interesting aspect of this movie is that Castellitto didn't speak any German, and Gedeck didn't understand Italian. So they shot the film with each speaking their own language. Then Castellitto's lines were dubbed in German for the finished film by Frank Glaubrecht. The humor and warmth of this story are endearing. It's a wonderful film that the whole family should enjoy.

Its rare these days to REALLY enjoy a storyline, enjoy witty dialogs, real human characters, and great background music - and a truly happy ending that not only is realistic - but a great lesson in life besides! Grab a glass of wine, or stein of beer, and sit down to enjoy the little gem of a flick!!!! Oh, my gosh - i need to write 10 lines! Well - here's my favorite things about this movie: 1) Characters are "real" - and the actors are FANTASTIC at portraying them! 2) Scenery is awesomely authentic .. I've been to northern Germany and it really IS that gray folks! ... and Italy really IS that sunny and beautiful! 3) Plot is SO WELL SUITED to daily single-parent life in the US ... and the moral of the whole story is that "it takes a family to raise a child .. and the child brings "life" to the otherwise mundane self-absorbed life of a perfectionist professional. 4) The Therapist character and sketches are extra icing on an already delightful cake!Bon Appetite!!!!

A lot of psychosocial aspects in area of top gourmet restaurant cook. In connection with outer life problems, a movie is live presentation of personal tension between professional obligations in restaurant and life obligations to young person, who is full of post traumatic shocks combined with adolescent social adaptation. Two great cooks in relatively small kitchen and living space play very interesting competition in cooking profession and life possibilities, interpolated with pride, caprice and love. Love for human and love for all what is really important in life. Movie is also practical guide to some aspects of the art of cooking.

I was going to let this movie slip into oblivion without bothering to write about it, but the glowing comments of some other reviewers impel me to add my two cent's worth to present a different view.The storyline has been described elsewhere in much detail: A young German woman who is the top-notch cook of a fancy restaurant is suddenly saddled with the headstrong 8-year old girl of her deceased sister, and a big-mouth Italian cook is put at her side in the restaurant - disasters in her life and on her job. She has my full sympathy; but the movie has her deal with these problems not in exactly the way I would have wished.However, the movie shows, sadly, that the ethical conditions in Germany have deteriorated the same way as in America: It is totally acceptable to conceive a child out of wedlock, bring it up without a father, and spoil it without indoctrination of some respect for their elders.The story moves slowly at times, with us sitting there and watching people think, and the ending is totally ambiguous - perhaps to placate viewers like myself?