From a description in Wikipedia, I was finally able to understand the significance of the title of this film. Sometimes in Latin America, hot chocolate is made with water rather than milk, and the chocolate melts only once the water boils. The phrase, "Like water for chocolate", refers to this. It is also used to refer to anger, being"boiling mad", may also be used as a metaphor for passion and sexual arousal, and can be frequently used to indicate"something is perfect for something else". I think we see many of these emotions-anger,passion and sexual arousal in the characters, and also in the relationship between Tita and Pedro, we see they are "perfect" for one another.
There were several scenes involving magic realism in the film. The appearance of Dona Elena as a ghost returning to continue her tirade of badgering of Tita on several instances exemplifies the real world combined with the non-existent. Tita was not frightened at the reappearances. These supernatural occurrances were more of an annoyance to her. When she finally denounces her mother, Tita is free of her captivity and Dona Elena fades away into a small light. The scene where Gertrudis sets the shower house on fire with her passion after eating the quail and rose sauce meal, then runs sensually through the desert, jumping on a horse with the soldier, and riding away into the desert, I also believe exemplifies the surreal mixed with reality. Toward the end of the film, when Tita self ignites after ingesting the matches and she and Pedro burn in the cabin is another example of magic realism. All of these instances were incorporated into the reality of the film so they seemed very natural even though they were not what we would consider natural.
The tradition of the youngest daughter never marrying to be able to take care of her mother until the mother dies was recurrent throughout this film. This is seen with Dona Elena and Tita, and then with Rosaura and her plan for Esperanza. You almost say to yourself "I can't believe this is happening again" when you hear the words repeated. I don't know if this was a common tradition of the time or culture or only practiced in their family, but you can see the strong influence of Dona Elena on the acceptance of this tradition by Rosaura. Dona Elena's matriarchal influence saturated the family and everyone on the ranch, she was not one to be crossed. When Gertrudis disgraced the family by being rumored to be working in a brothel, Dona Elena burned all of her pictures and birth certificate, essentially disowning her. Through these examples I think we see that like water for chocolate is expressed through many of the emotions that were exhibited in the characters of this film.
I did enjoy this movie even though I think it was pretty unusual. I would probably have more appreciation of it watching it a second time to be able to catch details that may have been missed the first time since it was quite different from other films I have seen.
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I agree with your comment that watching it twice would have been helpful. There was so much going on in this film. Dona Elana was so mean. I couldn't believe it when she burnt her daughters birth certificate, or when she didn't seem to care about the death of her grandson. She was quite a creepy ghost. Every time she appeared I think my stomach flipped. I was so glad when Tita was so brave and told Dona Elana what she thought of her. I was glad when Tita said she wasn't going to spend her life on the ranch taking care of such a mean woman. I don't think Dona Elana wanted anyone to be happy. I wonder if part of that reason is because she didn't marry for love.
ReplyDeleteSue Davish
Dianne, I too had to search other than the film to understand the meaning of Like Water for Chocolate. After google searching I was able to understand better. It makes sense to me now that when Tita said "I am boiling mad" after having an argument with her sister Rosaura. It was interesting that Rosaura died three days later from an unusual digestive disorder. With Tita being the chef, it makes me wonder what magic realism was taking place when Tita prepared Rosaura's food. If she could cause yearning for one's love with her tears as seen in the wedding cake scene. And cause passion and sensual longing while preparing rose pedal sauce. A digestive disorder would be appropriate for the anger she felt thinking her neice would have to undertake the same fate of never sharing true love.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness for Wikipedia...I did the same thing! Totally made sense, in the sensual definition and the that of the boiling mad. I think there were times that those of us watching the film felt "boiling mad" at Mama Elena's tyrannical domination of her family, especially when it resulted in the death of Pedro and Rosaura's son, whom Tita loved. Her constant badgering of "don't cry" made me cringe, and I was so happy when Tita finally stood up to her (dead) mother.
ReplyDeleteI would have liked to watch this film again as well. I think there are many details we miss while trying to read the lines.
ReplyDeleteI did not really 'get' the title, but after reading your blog and the comments on your blog it does make better sense.
I think the term Magic Realism is synonymous for American Soap Opera. You think you want something, or someone, until you get it then it turns into something you probably wish you never had.
Dianne, thanks for looking up the meaning of the title, I was not sure of the meaning even after the film, but now it makes total sense.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your disappointment about the lasting tradition of the youngest daughter to being able to marry and have her own family. Worst of all the reason for this tradition being just because “all our generations lived this way”. It reminded me of a lot of fairy tales that I have read during my childhood years; the was always somebody with crazy and unreasonable rules to ruin the main characters happiness. But somehow at the end the main character would overcome the obstacle in her/his life just like Tita finally was able to be with Pedro.
I also agree with you saying that this is the kind of film where you have to watch more that once, because there are so many details and little meanings that it is impossible to catch everything from just one screening. It is definitely on my to “watch again” list.