Mostly Martha

I watched Mostly Martha two nights ago. I very much enjoyed this German movie about a chef, Martha, who was home within a kitchen, but struggled with life outside of the kitchen.  It stars Martina Gedeck, Maxime Foerste, and Sergio Castellitto.

When we first meet Martha (Gedeck), she's at the top of her game. Head chef at one of Hamburg's swankiest restaurants, she keeps her kitchen spotless, her staff on edge, and her life free of complications. But underneath, she's a mess. She sees a shrink, can't find a man, and has no appetite - for life, for love, or for food. 

Two arrivals throw her carefully ordered existence into turmoil. Firstly, she is forced to look after eight-year-old niece Lina (Maxime Foerste) when her sister is killed in a car accident. Then her boss employs a new sous-chef, the charming Italian Mario (Castellitto), who quickly turns her kitchen upside down. The conflict between Martha's rigidity and Mario's high spirits make for a colorful culture clash, though we know it won't be long before he breaks through her defences.

This is a good movie. I recommend that you see it.