The Mistress of Spices (2005)

In India, Tilo has the ability of foreseeing the future. When their parents are killed by bandits, she is kidnapped but escapes and is raised by the First Mother in a sort of traditional ... See full summary »

Director:

Paul Mayeda Berges

Writers:

Gurinder Chadha (screenplay), Paul Mayeda Berges (screenplay),

Stars:

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Dylan McDermott, Nitin Ganatra

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Aishwarya Rai Bachchan	...	Tilo (as Aishwarya Rai)
Dylan McDermott	...	Doug
Nitin Ganatra	...	Haroun Rehman
Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje	...	Kwesi
Caroline Chikezie	...	Myisha
Anupam Kher	...	Geeta's Grandfather
Shaheen Khan	...	Jagit's Mother
Sonny Gill Dulay	...	Jagjit
Nina Young	...	Doug's Mother
Toby Marlow	...	Young Doug
Padma Lakshmi	...	Geeta
Zohra Segal	...	First Mother
Paul Bhattacharjee	...	Satish - Geeta's dad
Ayesha Dharker	...	Hameeda - Haroun's neighbor
Rebecca Bowden	...	Bougainvillea Girl

Storyline

In India, Tilo has the ability of foreseeing the future. When their parents are killed by bandits, she is kidnapped but escapes and is raised by the First Mother in a sort of traditional cult of spices. She becomes the Mistress of Spices and is sent to the Spice Bazaar in San Francisco, with the mission of following three basic rules: help her clients to accomplish their desires with the spices, but never hers; never leave the store; and never be touched in the skin. When she meets the handsome American architect Doug, she feels a great attraction and desire for him, breaking the first rule and being punished by the spices.

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Plot Keywords:

spice | taxi driver | voice over narration | bathtub | beach | 

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Taglines:

One spice for passion. And one woman who knows its name.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some violent images and sensuality

Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 April 2006 (UK)

Also Known As:

Condimentos para el amor

Filming Locations:

Baker's Beach, Presidio, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$21,941 (New Zealand) (7 July 2006)

Gross:

$63,969 (New Zealand) (7 July 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Balle Pictures, Capitol Films, Ingenious Film Partners

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 92 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gurinder Chadha and her mother made all the mango and carrot pickles seen at the spice store.

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Goofs

Towards the end, Doug hits red chili peppers with his shoulder. The chili start turning. In the next shot they are still, and in the following one they are swinging.

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Quotes

Tilo: Fennel, which is the spice for Wednesdays, the day of averages, of middle-aged people... Fennel... smelling of changes to come.

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Connections

References Chocolat (2000)

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Soundtracks

"Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha (Flute Mix)"
Performed by Bally Sagoo

User Reviews

Light but tantalizing.

All the prickly hate surrounding this film is perplexing. Aishwarya Rai fills the chapals of Tilo perfectly and Dylan McDermott is ravishing as Doug. The chemistry between Rai and McDermott is palpable.

The source material for the film is pretty thin itself. So given that Berges was able to fashion this tasty, meaty film -- that lets you feel the sizzle of the chilies or the lapping of the almond milk while providing a cute folktale in the U.S. -- is commendable.

The movie's failing attribute is how slow it is to start -- but a quirky cast and hypnotic cinematography make this a movie that's easily along the lines of The Lake House or Chocolat in the realm of accessible magical realism.