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Chère Martha

Original title: Bella Martha
  • 2001
  • Tous publics
  • 1h 49m
IMDb RATING
7.2/10
8.8K
YOUR RATING
Chère Martha (2001)
Watch Trailer [OV]
Play trailer1:42
1 Video
14 Photos
Romantic ComedyComedyDramaRomance

When a headstrong chef takes charge of her equally stubborn 8-year-old niece, the tensions between them mount... until an Italian sous-chef arrives to lighten the mood.When a headstrong chef takes charge of her equally stubborn 8-year-old niece, the tensions between them mount... until an Italian sous-chef arrives to lighten the mood.When a headstrong chef takes charge of her equally stubborn 8-year-old niece, the tensions between them mount... until an Italian sous-chef arrives to lighten the mood.

  • Director
    • Sandra Nettelbeck
  • Writer
    • Sandra Nettelbeck
  • Stars
    • Martina Gedeck
    • Maxime Foerste
    • Sergio Castellitto
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.2/10
    8.8K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Sandra Nettelbeck
    • Writer
      • Sandra Nettelbeck
    • Stars
      • Martina Gedeck
      • Maxime Foerste
      • Sergio Castellitto
    • 90User reviews
    • 48Critic reviews
    • 72Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 14 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer [OV]
    Trailer 1:42
    Trailer [OV]

    Photos14

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    Top cast29

    Edit
    Martina Gedeck
    Martina Gedeck
    • Martha Klein
    Maxime Foerste
    • Lina Klein
    Sergio Castellitto
    Sergio Castellitto
    • Mario
    August Zirner
    August Zirner
    • Martha's Therapist
    Ulrich Thomsen
    Ulrich Thomsen
    • Sam Thalberg
    Sibylle Canonica
    Sibylle Canonica
    • Frida
    Katja Studt
    Katja Studt
    • Lea
    Idil Üner
    • Bernadette
    Oliver Broumis
    Oliver Broumis
    • Jan
    Antonio Wannek
    Antonio Wannek
    • Carlos
    Gerhard Garbers
    • Herr Steinberg
    Angela Schmidt
    • Frau Steinberg
    Diego Ribon
    Diego Ribon
    • Giuseppe Lorenzo
    Wolf-Dietrich Sprenger
    • Lauter Gast
    • (as W.D. Sprenger)
    Victoria Trauttmansdorff
    • Begleiterin
    • (as Victoria von Trautmannsdorf)
    Jerome Ducornau
    • Jean
    • (as Jerome Ducournau)
    Adrian Stein
    • Küchenjunge
    Rocco Dressel
    • Bartender
    • Director
      • Sandra Nettelbeck
    • Writer
      • Sandra Nettelbeck
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews90

    7.28.7K
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    Featured reviews

    9Stephen-34

    If you ever needed a reason to learn German

    You have it now. Buy, don't rent this film. It's a keeper. Most notable and with great kudos to the director, the films stays true to itself almost all the way through. Far enough to beat out most other films. There are a few quibbles toward the end of the film, but not enough to shake off the aura it imparts just giving yourself over to its story.

    The camera moves efficiently and cleanly throughout the film, and the actors respond with clean understated action and dialog.

    The story is spare, and I found what I think is a clue to the writer's intention, as the protagonist describes the menu purpose of "Fish in Butter and Basil sauce." Listen for it and see if you don't agree, she is speaking to us about her story/film.

    To own this is, like Nurse Betty, to own something you just have to pull out and watch a couple of times a year. just because they're so darn good.

    No wonder the folks in H'wood are busy at making an American version for 2007.
    8zwirnm

    Thoughtful, moving, rewarding

    A few rhetorical questions:

    a. Why are there no great English-language food/romance movies? Whenever you see a movie that truly ravishes you with food preparation and recipes as part of the atmosphere of the movie, it comes from France or Mexico or Hong Kong - or, if it is in English, it's borrowed culturally from another country (e.g. Chocolat, or the Mexican-American adaptation of Ang Lee's Eat Drink Man Woman). I think it's because the English speaking societies of the world have a relatively unsophisticated approach to food preparation and dining, manifest in our great contributions to world culinary arts - fast food and industrial agriculture, plus cooking technologies that take art out of the equation. You can't have a sexy drama set amidst a world of force-fed veal or microwave dinners.

    b. Why do we never talk about German comedy? The Germans do have a comedic tradition, but the movies that are released in the US tend to be solemn dramas, violent or shocking action pieces or grim experimental works. On the rare instances that I see a German comedy, I'm always pleasantly surprised, and I have the feeling I'm missing out.

    c. Why are European movies so much better than American films at showing sexiness and desirability in 30- or 40-something year-old women? I have a pet theory, that European sensibilities about marriage and commitment are sufficiently different from American norms that there is the expectation that a 35-year old woman may yet be actively and happily single, or perhaps a single mom who isn't stigmatized to feel that she had best find some sucker to marry her and get out of the dating pool.

    d. Why isn't jazz used in American soundtracks anymore? In this film set in Germany, the score is assembled by Manfred Eicher (founder of ECM, the acclaimed modern-jazz label), and it's all good. Some nice German lieder, classic vocal jazz, and instrumental pieces by Keith Jarrett and others. We Americans appear to have forgotten jazz as soundtrack music.

    In any case, Mostly Martha is a fine little movie set in contemporary Köln, starring Martina Gedeck as the title character. Martha is a neurotic, workaholic chef at a high-end restaurant, whose control freak tendencies keep her at a distance from everyone. When her boss insists that she go to therapy, she replies by preparing recipes for the hapless shrink. Both lonely and a loner (a tricky combination), she throws herself into her work to the point of exhaustion.

    Martha's single-minded life is thrown upside down when she suddenly becomes the guardian to her niece Lina (Maxime Foerste). As she struggles to take on this new role, the arrival of a competitor in the form of a brash Italian chef (Sergio Castellitto) threatens her supremacy in the kitchen.

    Any viewer of romantic comedies knows where this is going, but I have no complaints about the plot line. The performances were all good; the dialogue is thoughtful; the food looks delicious. It's not a great movie, but it's a good one and would be an admirable effort by any studio.
    8ferguson-6

    Misleading trailer, Wonderful film

    Greetings again from the darkness. Nothing (well very few things) irritates me more than a marketing campaign that misrepresents the movie. The trailer I saw 2 months ago, led me to believe that this was a comedy, in fact, almost a slapstick comedy. PLEASE don't go to this movie expecting a comedy. There are a few laughs, but mostly just a few smiles and chuckles. This wonderful film offers so much other than comedy. Veteran German actress Martina Gedeck is just outstanding as Martha - a beautiful woman comfortable only while cooking ... and then just barely. Most of the movie deals with Martha's struggle at being a mom to her 8 year old niece AND having to share her kitchen with a talented "Italian" chef. Watching these 3 grow is painful, yet fulfilling. Watch for the changes in Martha's approach to food and life as Mario shows her the warmth and emotions of both. This is a coming of age film for an older woman. "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" had been my favorite little movie of the year. Now it is not so little, and "Mostly Martha" may be every bit as good. Just don't expect a laugh out loud comedy.
    writers_reign

    Home Cooking

    It's almost as if Nettelbeck had been given a recipe for a perfect film - start with the tried-and-tested, take a character living alone, set in his/her ways then saddle him/her with a young kid and simmer the love-hate on a low flame; add a culture clash and vamp til ready -and discarded it in favor of her own ingredients. The culinery metaphor is self-explanatory but it IS fun to see the heavy, lard-based German cuisine slugging it out with the lighter, oil-based Italian style. Up front we have two cold teutonic hearts, aunt and neice and with the introduction of the Italian extrovert chef we know it is only a matter of time til the warm Italian sun thaws the cold aryan hearts. That's pretty much what happens but it is a DELIGHT to go along for the ride and surrender your emotional taste-buds to Nettelbeck's expertise for the entire running time. I've just seen this movie for the second time in about 8 months and I was just as captivated this time around. 9/10
    9jotix100

    Wiener Schnitzel Italian style...

    This German film is one of the happiest surprises of the year. Not only is it a well paced, acted, and directed, but it involves the viewer like no other film in recent memory. Director/writer Sandra Nettelbeck deserves praise for bringing this joyous piece to the screen.

    Martina Gedleck, as Martha, is perfect as the control freak of the upscale restaurant. Obviously, she can cook, judging by the full houses and the good vibes she generates among the diners. What she has in smarts, she lacks in social graces. Obviously, she doesn't have a life.

    Her world is shattered by the arrival of a niece that comes to her under tragic circumstances, and from Mario, the new Italian cook. One can see the new man in her kitchen is too much of a free spirit, who ultimately will be her downfall.

    Mario, very nicely played by Sergio Castelletto, is the opposite of his German colleague. It doesn't take long for him to charm the daylights out of Martha. Sparks fly whenever they are on screen together. Both principals have the right chemistry and that's why this film works so well. It will surely disarm anyone in the right state of mind. The only thing is that one must leave the theatre craving for a great meal.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Sergio Castellitto's German wasn't good enough so Frank Glaubrecht was brought in to dub his voice for the German version.
    • Goofs
      When Mario and Lina get ready to cook dinner at Martha's apartment, Lina puts on her apron twice.
    • Quotes

      Mario: [to Frida, about chef Martha] It's your restaurant, but her kitchen. Without her, it's just a pile of metal. It's for her to decide.

    • Connections
      Featured in Le cinéma passe à table (2005)
    • Soundtracks
      Country
      Written by Keith Jarrett

      Performed by Keith Jarrett, Jan Garbarek, Palle Danielsson, Jørn Christensen

      ECM Records

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    FAQ19

    • How long is Mostly Martha?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 21, 2004 (France)
    • Countries of origin
      • Germany
      • Italy
      • Austria
      • Switzerland
    • Languages
      • German
      • Italian
    • Also known as
      • Mostly Martha
    • Filming locations
      • Hamburg, Germany
    • Production companies
      • ARTE
      • Bavaria Film
      • Palomar
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $4,160,475
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $40,446
      • Aug 18, 2002
    • Gross worldwide
      • $9,852,022
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 49m(109 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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