Mostly Martha (film)

Mostly Martha
Directed by	Sandra Nettelbeck
Produced by	Karl Baumgartner Christoph Friedel
Written by	Sandra Nettelbeck
Starring	Martina Gedeck Sergio Castellitto Maxime Foerste
Cinematography	Michael Bertl
Editing by	Mona Bräuer
Distributed by	Paramount Classics (USA)
Release date(s)	10 September 2001
Running time	109 mins.
Country	Italy Germany Austria Switzerland
Language	German, Italian

Mostly Martha (original German title: Bella Martha) is a 2001 German romantic comedy drama film written and directed by Sandra Nettelbeck and starring Martina Gedeck, Maxime Foerste, and Sergio Castellitto. The film is about a workaholic chef who is forced to adjust to major changes in her personal and professional life that are beyond her control. The film won the Créteil International Women's Film Festival Grand Prix Award, and the Goya Award for Best European Film in 2002. It was also nominated for the German Film Awards Outstanding Feature Film.

Plot

Martha Klein (Martina Gedeck) is a chef at Lido, a gourmet restaurant in Hamburg, Germany. A perfectionist who lives only for her work, Martha has difficulty relating to the world other than through food. Her single-minded obsession with her culinary craft occasionally leads to unpleasant confrontations with customers. Consequently, the restaurant owner, Frida (Sibylle Canonica), requires her to see a therapist (August Zirner) to work out her poor interpersonal skills. Martha's therapy sessions, however, turn into monologues on food, and her approach to stress management usually involves hiding in the restaurant's walk-in refrigerator.

Martha's life takes a dramatic turn when she learns that her sister died in a car accident, leaving behind a young daughter, Lina (Maxime Foerste). The girl's father, Giuseppe Lorenzo (Diego Ribon), has been out of the picture for years living somewhere in Italy. Martha must now look after her niece, who is depressed, withdrawn, and refuses to eat. While trying to cope with her sister's death and the difficulty of raising a young girl, Martha's world is further complicated when Frida hires funloving and unorthodox Mario (Sergio Castellitto) as a sous-chef to replace Lea (Katja Studt), who is expecting a child any day. Martha looks on in horror as Mario transforms her kitchen of precision and logistics with his relaxed banter and Italian music.

Unable to find an acceptable babysitter, Martha starts to bring Lina to the restaurant with her. Lina warms to Mario's playfulness and even devours a plate of spaghetti he's prepared. Touched by Mario's kindness and concern for the child, Martha becomes more accepting of Mario. She even asks for his help in locating Lina's father in Italy and translating a letter she's written to him.

Just as Martha's relationship with Lina seems to be improving, a setback occurs when she forgets to pick the girl up from school while helping Lea get to the hospital to deliver her baby. Lina is angry at being forgotten. To make amends, Martha offers to grant Lina any wish. For her wish, Lina wants Mario to cook for them. Mario agrees, and prepares a picnic-style dinner in Martha's living room. Despite the mess left behind in the kitchen, the evening of stories and games bring the three closer together.

Martha's relationship with Lina is tested again when Martha is informed by the school principal that Lina has not been attending school regularly, and when she does come to school, she sleeps in the classroom. Lina has also been telling her friends that she's forced to work in a kitchen for her room and board. Angered by Lina's behavior, Martha tells her she can no longer come to the restaurant. Lina storms off, nearly getting hit by a car, and later attempts to run away to Italy. A frustrated Martha tells Lina in frustration, "I wish I had a recipe for you, that I could follow." Mario continues to support Martha, and their relationship becomes romantic.

Lina's father finally arrives, and takes his daughter to Italy to live with his new wife and family. Distraught and conflicted by the separation, Martha rejects Mario's loving support, and after another confrontation with a customer, she quits her job.

Martha reconciles with Mario, and the two drive to Italy to bring Lina back to Germany. Martha and Mario marry, adopt Lina, and make plans to open their own restaurant together. Meanwhile, Martha's therapy sessions have turned into cooking lessons for her therapist, who is amazed that she can tell the difference between the type of sugar he used and the type of sugar called for in the recipe.

Cast

• Martina Gedeck as Martha Klein
• Maxime Foerste as Lina Klein (Martha's niece)
• Sergio Castellitto as Mario
• August Zirner as Martha's Therapist
• Sibylle Canonica as Frida
• Katja Studt as Lea
• Antonio Wannek as Carlos
• İdil Üner as Bernadette
• Oliver Broumis as Jan
• Ulrich Thomsen as Samuel "Sam" Thalberg
• Gerhard Garbers as Herr Steinberg
• Angela Schmidt as Frau Steinberg
• Diego Ribon as Giuseppe Lorezo
• W.D. Sprenger as Noisy Customer

Reception

Critical response

In his review in The New York Times, film critic Elvis Mitchell wrote, "The movie itself has a trim, ticking precision, though Manfred Eicher (one of the founders of the ECM jazz label) adds a score that gives the picture a light-handed rhythm. Ms. Nettelbeck seems to have achieved a balance of control and autonomy so that Mostly Martha doesn't feel as if it was directed by its central figure. The final confection is extremely enjoyable, though a few degrees shy of perfection."

In their review in Spirituality & Practice, Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat wrote, "Writer and director Sandra Nettelbeck beautifully orchestrates the transformation of the chilly, neurotic, and self-absorbed Martha as her heart begins to open under the tutelage of Lina and Mario."

In his review in Reel Views, James Berardinelli wrote, "The acting is top-notch. Martina Gedeck is glorious as Martha. ... As Lina, Maxime Foerste gives a natural, unforced performance. ... And Sergio Castellitto is delightful as Mario. ... As much as any other motion picture that employs the preparation and consumption of food as a key element, Mostly Martha provides the perfect blend of cinematic nourishment and gratification."

Awards

• 2002 Créteil International Women's Film Festival Grand Prix Award (Sandra Nettelbeck)
• 2002 European Film Awards Best Actor (Sergio Castellitto)
• 2002 European Film Awards Nomination Best Actress (Martina Gedeck)
• 2002 German Film Awards Outstanding Individual Achievement Actress (Martina Gedeck)
• 2002 German Film Awards Outstanding Feature Film Nomination (Sandra Nettelbeck)
• 2002 Nantucket Film Festival Best Feature Screenplay (Sandra Nettelbeck)
• 2002 Lecce Festival of European Cinema Special Jury Award (Sandra Nettelbeck)
• 2002 Lecce Festival of European Cinema Students Jury Award (Sandra Nettelbeck)
• 2003 German Film Critics Association Awards Best Actress (Martina Gedeck)
• 2003 Goya Awards Best European Film (Sandra Nettelbeck)

Soundtrack

The soundtrack is comprised mostly of music by artists from the ECM Records stable, including Keith Jarrett, Steve Reich, David Darling, and Arvo Pärt, with most compositions dating from the 1990s. Manfred Eicher, founder of ECM Records, is credited as music consultant.

• "Country" (Keith Jarrett) by Keith Jarrett, Jan Garbarek, Palle Danielsson, and Jørn Christensen
• "Let's Do It in A-Flat" (Steve Reich) by M. Segal, S. Reich, J. Gunkel, and M. Fonfara
• "How Deep Is the Blues" (Steve Reich) by M. Segal, S. Reich, J. Gunkel, and M. Fonfara
• "Too Much of Your Love" (Steve Reich) by M. Segal, S. Reich, J. Gunkel, and M. Fonfara
• "Special Delivery" (Peter Blegvad) by Peter Blegvad
• "Darkwood VII: New Morning" (David Darling) by David Darling
• "Für Alina" (Arvo Pärt) by Alexander Malter
• "Tokyo, Encore" (Keith Jarrett) by Keith Jarrett
• "Angelina – Zooma Zooma" (Roberts, Fisher – Citarrelly, Prima) by Louis Prima
• "Volare" (Franco Migliacci, Domenico Modugno) by Dean Martin
• "Bregenz, Part I" (Keith Jarrett) by Keith Jarrett
• "Via Con Me" (Paolo Conte) by Paolo Conte
• "Attenti Al Lupo" (Ron) by Lucio Dalla
• "Relax-Ay-Voo" (Johns, Salvador) by Dean Martin
• "Never Let Me Go" (Ray Evans, Jay Livingston) by Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Jack de Johnette
• "U Dance" (Keith Jarrett) by Keith Jarrett, Gary Peacock, and Jack de Johnette

Remakes

A feature film based on Mostly Martha, retitled No Reservations, was released in the United States in 2007 starring Catherine Zeta-Jones in the role corresponding to Martha. Aaron Eckhart takes on the role corresponding to Mario in Mostly Martha with an Americanised attitude.

The film inspired the Spanish film Chef's Special.

External links

• Mostly Martha at the Internet Movie Database
• Mostly Martha at AllRovi