Like Water for Chocolate Book Vs. Movie

Like Water for Chocolate Book Vs. Movie

        Around the world there are many different traditions, some good and some not so good. Tita, a 15 year old Mexican girl that is the youngest daughter. This means she can not marry, and will take care of her mother until death. This would not be an issue if Pedro did not come and pledge his love for her. Now in love, Mama Elena forbids Tita to marry and has Pedro Titas sister.

Mama Elena was a vicious cruel mother who worked Tita as a slave. Tita hated the way she was treated and reaches he limit one day, and runs away.

Like Water for Chocolate, a modern day Romeo and Juliet filled with mouthwatering recipes. This popular novel was so popular is was made into a film. The film soon because very successful in the U.S. and Mexica. Alfonso Arau directs the film, and after reading the novel and watching the movie, I discovered several distinct differences between the two as well as some similarities.

As we begin the film we are brought right into Tita being born on the kitchen table.  "Tita had no need for the usual slap on the bottom, because she was already crying as she emerged” (120 Esquirel). “Tita was literally washed into this world on a great tide of tears that spilled over the edge of the table and flooded across the kitchen floor" (Esquirel 6). In the film with tremendous accuracy we see this scene The movie opens with Titas father going to a bar to celebrate the birth of his daughter. As he was going out to the bar his friend informs him of his wives’ affair with a black man. He has a heart attack and dies instantly at the bar. In the book this information is not given until later chapters. As we continue reading we are introduced to Gertrudis. Gertrudis is the older sister of Tita and, is the first to rebel against Mama Elena. Wanting to escape the ranch she goes on with her lust passions. A soldier riding near by comes to the rescue

"The aroma from Gertrudis body guided him The woman desperately needed a man to quench the red-hot fire that was raging inside her Gertrudis stopped running when she saw him riding toward her. Naked as she was, with her loosened hair falling to her waist, luminous, glowing with energy, she might have been an angel and devil in one woman. Without slowing his gallop, so as not to waste a moment, he leaned over, put his arm around her waist, and lifted her onto the horse in front of him, face to face, and carried her away. The movement of the horse combined with the movement of their bodies as they made love for the first time, at a gallop and with a great deal of difficulty " (Esquirel 55).

Each sense that the author puts in the text is replicated in the film vividly. Later we find out about a group of soldiers are approaching the ranch.  Mama Elena grabs her shotgun and tucks it under her coat.  Mama meets the revolutionaries, and two other women.  She warns them not the pass the gate. Looking into her eyes the captain decides not to try her. Although the regiment manages to get some feed before they head off. In the movie they are aloud to enter the ranch, possibly to add more action. Mama Elena first confronts them, but only with one other lady by her side.  After that the rebels decide to rape the woman that was with Mama Elena. The beating her lifeless and throwing her in the lake. The the book we see something completely different. Mama dies later in the book due to a drug overdose.