MOSTLY MARTHA
Directed by: Sandra Nettelbeck.
Produced by: Karl Baumgartner & Christoph Friedel.
Written by: Nettelbeck.
Director of Photography: Michael Bertl.
Edited by: Mona Bräuer.
Music by: David Darling, Keith Jarrett, & Arvo Pärt.
Released by: Paramont Home Video.
Country of Origin: Germany/Italy/Austria. 105 min. Rated: PG.
With: Martina Gedeck, Maxime Foerste, & Sergio Castellitto.

Martha (Gedeck), a domineering and dismissive chef of an upscale Hamburg restaurant, is stunned by her sudden change of fate–her sister dies in a tragic car accident and she's left to care for her eight-year-old niece, Lina (Foerste), who is equally as petulant as her aunt. No matter what gourmet dish Martha prepares, Lina refuses to eat. Overloaded with the burden of caring for Lina and searching for her father, Martha is angry that she's forced to work with another chef, Mario (Castellitto), a dancing and singing Italian full of bravado. Unable to find a babysitter, Martha brings Lina to work, and when her back is turned, Sergio quickly has Lina eating from the palm of his hand. Just as predictable as the generic music cues, so is the plot. Eventually both manage to wear down Martha’s wall of resistance. Fortunately, Martha doesn't transform completely–she’s still judgmental to the very end. Castellitto’s charm and subtlety transcend what could have been a stereotypical role, and Gedeck brings both a determination and warmth (as well as looks) reminiscent of Helen Hunt and Meryl Streep. Foerste effortlessly plays her role, never playing to the camera. It would be easy to imagine this as a Julia Roberts or Meg Ryan vehicle except for Martha’s unabashed brittleness and the film’s slower for Hollywood pace. KT
April 24, 2003