A few years ago I saw a small and charming foreign film about cooking called Mostly Martha, written and directed by Sandra Nettelbeck. I wasn't familiar with any of the lead actors and had no expectations going in but I was very pleasantly surprised by this film for it had warmth, charm and drama to compliment it's mostly saccharine and comedic American trailer. It was one of my favorites of all the films I saw that year.
Five years later, I'm a bit surprised to see Hollywood has decided to remake the flim, injecting A list star power and crafting an equally if not more overpoweringly saccharine trailer to promote the film. I can only question -- why? I was fooled by the trailer for Mostly Martha because the film was so much more than its American trailer made it to be, but for the Hollywood remake, I don't have high hopes.
Trailers:
Mostly Martha (American trailer -- unable to find international trailer)
No Reservations
2 comments:
I only saw a blurb from it in film class, where her voice narrates over footage of her cooking, while the dialogue draws a metaphor for her situation and the violent death of a lobster being prepared for a dish. It seemed very heartfelt.
One answer to you question could be: because good stories are worth to be told in ways that can reach as many people as possible.
One example that come to my mind is the movie "Three Men and A Baby". I loved the original (that I've seen it dubbed in Italian) and I find the American version interesting and enjoyable too.
The location is different, the actors are different, the director is different and the language is different but the charm of the story is still the same.
Different countries with different cultures tell the same story in different ways and I think that is great.
By the way, I've seen "Mostly Martha" because of your suggestion and I loved it. Thanks.
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