Customer Reviews

Mostly Martha (Widescreen Subtitled)

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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!

_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.

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.

<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 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.

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 added to the staff,. Suddenly Martha's life is no longer under control at all. The dialogue is well-written and scenes with Martha's therapist and neighbor, minor characters, are as funny as those between principles. The acting is superb throughout, and though the plot is predictable, this is still an entertaining film concerned with questions of happiness, family and connecting with others.

This is a bare bones dvd, unfortunately -- not even a trailer. The film can be heard in German with optional English subtitles.

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 audience.
The characters are interesting, and the acting is great, though I found the script to be a bit weak.
This is a character based movie about Martha, a well respected chef in Germany, but with many issues. She is obsessed with small details, as most Germans are, and stubbornly argues with her few guests who dare critize her work. She then is introduced to a jovial, middle aged Italian Cook, who ends up having quite an effect on her life.
Again, all food movie lovers will appreciate this one, just don't expect to be "wowed"

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 I've seen. The story is realtively small and localized, more like British films and literature, revolving around Martha's home, work, and her psychaitrist's office, and with a base of only three characters, with Martha as the primary. MOSTLY MARTHA could have felt claustrophobic, but it established itself with character depth as its defining feature, and succeeded very well. This is a must buy.

Great movie, great photography, great music, great acting. This is the kind of movie that makes you glad you are alive. The song they play over and over: Via Con Me (Come Away with Me), from Paolo Conti, is very much the movie.

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. The English subtitling often fails. It isn't merely a problem of words lost in translation, but the entire translation going missing. Frequently, lines and lines of major dialog went by with absolutely no translation ever appearing as subtitles. Sprechen Sie keine Deutsch und vielen interessantes weissen sie nicht! Thankfully we could make out most of the untranslated dialog, but the authoring effort for the subtitles was well subpar. I'd still recommend the film, but more is lost than usual in translation.

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. There are also some very funny parts. The movie is in german with english subtitles, but the dialog is easy to follow and the subtitles are easy to read. I would highly recommend this movie for all who live to eat!