The Mistress of Spices (2005)

Director:

Paul Mayeda Berges

Writers (WGA):

Gurinder Chadha (screenplay) &
Paul Mayeda Berges (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

21 April 2006 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

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

Plot:

In India, Tilo has the ability of foreseeing the future. When their parents are killed by bandits, she...

Plot Keywords:

Sindoor | Spice | Shopkeeper | Racial Slur | Racism

Cast

Aishwarya Rai	...	Tilo
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 Sehgal	...	First Mother (as Zohra Segal)
Paul Bhattacharjee	...	Satish - Geeta's dad
Ayesha Dharker	...	Hameeda - Haroun's neighbor
Rebecca Bowden	...	Bougainvillea Girl

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violent images and sensuality

Runtime:

92 min | Canada:92 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Ireland:12A | Argentina:Atp | Finland:K-11 | USA:PG-13 | UK:12A | Singapore:PG | Italy:T | Australia:M | Hong Kong:IIA | Malaysia:U

Filming Locations:

Baker's Beach, Presidio, San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Balle Pictures

Trivia:

The motorcycle used in the film is a 2004 790cc Triumph (Hinckley) Bonneville.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Tilo makes "paan" for Kwesi, she is shown putting some betel nuts and finally a cardamom in the paan. However, upon revelation, a clove is seen in the paan which was never there before.

Movie Connections:

References Chocolat (2000)

Soundtrack:

Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha (Flute Mix)

Aishwarya Rai Makes This Little Film Worth

In India, Tilo (Aishwarya Rai) 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 (Zohra Segal) 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 (Dylan McDermott), she feels a great attraction and desire for him, breaking the first rule and being punished by the spices.

"The Mistress of Spices" is a predictable but pleasant film that uses the idea of movies like "Chocolate", "Woman on Top", "Como Agua Para Chocolate" blending romance with food or spice or chocolate or cookies. Therefore, the flawed story has no originality and is quite boring and messy in many moments. However, the cinematography is wonderful, with magnificent colors highlighted on DVD. Further, the gorgeous Miss World 1994 and Queen of Bollywood Aishwarya Rai makes this little film worth with her beauty and participating in most of the scenes. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "O Sabor da Magia" ("The Flavor of Magic")