Review
Mostly Martha is mostly a formulaic movie characterized by an anonymous style and a paucity of orignal ideas. The German chef, Martha, is an uptight control freak; the Italian chef, Mario, is a charming and comparatively sensuous extrovert; the eight-year-old niece, Lina, forces Martha to get in touch with her maternal feelings; and the movie, unfortunately, seems to imply that Martha's workaholic tendencies are inherently unfeminine. On the positive side, Martina Gedeck does a fine job with her role and makes her character seem like more than just a cardboard cutout, even though the script sometimes treats her that way. Credit must be given to Gedeck and writer-director Sandra Nettelback for knowing when Martha should and should not be demonstrative, and thus knowing when it's best for Gedeck to underplay her role (e.g., an affecting scene in which Martha reacts to an important phone call at work). Unfortunately, this awareness doesn't extend to Mario, perhaps because there is little to his personality beyond his demonstrativeness; also, unfortunately, the film doesn't have enough positive traits to compensate for the conventional story. But if originality isn't your top priority and you want to see a little bit of romance, a lot of food, and some tearjerking drama, then you might find this movie satisfying. ~ Todd Kristel, All Movie Guide

On the DVD
Widescreen version enhanced for 16x9 TVs
Dolby Digital German 5.1 surround
English subtitles

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36 Reviews 5 star:  (25) 4 star:  (9) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:  (2) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review (36 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most helpful customer reviews   1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: Mostly Martha is Mostly Magnificent, May 29 2004 By  Dorie (Mechanicsburg, PA USA) - See all my reviews I thought that "Mostly Martha" (other titles include: "Drei Sterne", and "Bella Martha") was outstanding. It showed well rounded characters, an interesting plot, a happy (though not suprising) end, and was an all around successful endeavor in film-making. I give this movie two thumbs up and suggest that everyone interested in seeing a really good film should see "Mostly Martha". Bono Appetite! Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)   1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: Wonderfully Enjoyable Film, April 23 2004 By  E. L. Weinhold "Lolly" (Maryland, USA) - See all my reviews    _Mostly Martha_ is a top-rate film: wonderful story, great acting, and a superb soundtrack. The story revolves around a reputable chef, Martha, and how her life changes when her sister tragically dies, and she must take care of her young niece, Lina. The two have many problems in the beginning: both are grieving the death, and both are being forced into an unknown situations. After failed babysitting attempts, Lina starts to come to the restaurant with Martha. With the help of another chef, Mario, and his wonderful food creations, Martha and Lina become closer (as do Mario and Martha...) Food plays a major role in this film, many scenes are shot in the kitchen, and still others are spent describing luscious recipes. The actors were superb in their roles, and really made the film. The characters of Martha and Lina developed nicely as the movie progressed, and Mario's role was comedic and genuine...A great performance by all! Of special note: The soundtrack features the wonderful "Via con me" by Paolo Conte. You may find yourself humming/whistling it for days! _Mostly Martha_ was a highly enjoyable film, and I recommend it for all epicureans, and anyone who enjoys a great story. Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)   1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: A food movie about people., April 10 2004 By  Grace Mrowicki (Putney, VT United States) - See all my reviews    Bella Martha is a remarkable food movie in an uncommon way. While you're not going to come away from it quite as hungry as many others, because it doesn't focus visually on the food, it's remarkable in its characterization of restaurant people. Martha is neurotic in many ways that overlap with chefs I've worked under: the OCD, the not eating, the awkward people skills. So if what you're looking for in a 'food movie' is mouth-watering shots of the food, this isn't it, but the characters are remarkable, and it's a great story as well. Unfortunately, as a German-speaking friend I watched it with told me, the subtitles are kinda crap. But it's not the minutiae of the plot that makes this movie good, though the overall writing is excellent. Was this review helpful to you? (Report this) Share your thoughts with other customers:  › See all 36 customer reviews...		Most recent customer reviews A food movie about people. <i>Bella Martha</i> is a remarkable food movie in an uncommon way. While you're not going to come away from it quite as hungry as many others, because it doesn't focus... Read more Published on April 10 2004 by Grace Mrowicki minimlist dvd of a charming movie Martha is a control-freak German chef. She runs her kitchen and her life with discipline, though little joy, until her orphaned niece comes to live with her and a new chef is... Read more Published on Mar 25 2004 by audrey_the_librarian Above Average Food Movie This is not quite as emotionally gratifying as such food movie classics like "Babette's Feast" or "Big Night", but it will certainly please it's select... Read more Published on Mar 9 2004 by S. Sommerville Best impulse rental of the year I picked this movie up at the rental place, but I didn't know anything about it. Now I wish it had been advertised more widely, because it is the second best German language film... Read more Published on Feb 17 2004 by Jenn Come Away With Me! Great movie, great photography, great music, great acting. This is the kind of movie that makes you glad you are alive. Read more Published on Jan 30 2004 by MiloMilo Beautiful film, but fire the translators This film was wonderfully done. Moving, beautifully shot and acted, the story was thoroughly enjoyed, but the DVD has a serious flaw for those unable to follow german dialog. Read more Published on Jan 5 2004 by G. Kuo A++ movie! If you love to eat, this is the movie for you! The story is consistantly good, the acting is great and the food makes you hungry from the start. Read more Published on Dec 16 2003 Mostly Martha MOLTO Bellisima!!! Molto Bellisimma means very beautiful and this movie is very, very beautiful! This is the best movie I have seen in 2003. Read more