Tortilla Soup (2001)

A Mexican-American master chef and father to three daughters has lost his taste for food, but not for life.

Director:

Maria Ripoll

Writers:

Hui-Ling Wang (earlier screenplay), Ang Lee (earlier screenplay)

Stars:

Hector Elizondo, Jacqueline Obradors, Tamara Mello

2 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jacqueline Obradors	...	Carmen Naranjo
Tamara Mello	...	Maribel Naranjo
Judy Herrera	...	Eden
Nikolai Kinski	...	Andy
Elizabeth Peña	...	Leticia Naranjo
Constance Marie	...	Yolanda
Troy Ruptash	...	Hairdresser
Ken Marino	...	Jeff
Hector Elizondo	...	Martin Naranjo
Marisabel García	...	April
Julio Oscar Mechoso	...	Gomez
Louis Crugnali	...	Catering Assistant
Raquel Welch	...	Hortensia
Joel Joan	...	Antonio Urgell
Paul Rodriguez	...	Orlando Castillo

Storyline

Retired Mexican-American chef Martin Naranjo (Hector Elizondo) shares a Los Angeles, California house with his three gorgeous, but single, adult daughters. Though he long ago lost his ability to taste, Martin still lives to cook incredibly lavish dinners for his loved ones and to serve them in a family-style ritual at traditional sit-down meals. Although the women humor their father's old-fashioned ways, each of them is searching for fulfillment outside the family circle. College student Maribel (Tamara Mello) is growing increasingly frustrated with the singles scene and wants a steady man; gorgeous career woman Carmen (Jacqueline Obradors) is fed up with her boyfriend and his wandering eye; meanwhile, eldest daughter Leticia (Elizabeth Peña), who has suppressed her own romantic longings, senses something missing in her life. Things take a turn for the romantic when Dad, a widower, meets a vivacious divorcée on the lookout for a mate and each of his daughters, in turn, finds someone. ...

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Plot Keywords:

mexican american | chef | college student | career woman | divorcee | 

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Taglines:

A comedy to arouse your appetite.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content

Did You Know?

Trivia

The plot of this movie is a Hispanic version of Eat Drink Man Woman (1994), about an aging widower chef who raised three daughters alone, both being written by Ang Lee. Even the opening crisis, the restaurant previously run by the chef has ruined the main feature of a huge banquet and he is called in to save the day, is the same.

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Goofs

When the teacher reads another note after her students leave, one of the students who just left wears a purple shirt. When she looks back in at the teacher, she is wearing a green striped shirt.

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Quotes

Hortensia: Careful, dear, boys don't like smart-asses.
Maribel Naranjo: No, they just like asses.

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Connections

References Pokémon Red Version (1996)

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Soundtracks

A Ballar
Written by Scott Nickoley, Patricio Castillo and Jamie Dunlap
Performed by Patricio Castillo

User Reviews

Pleasant, but pale remake

"Tortilla Soup" is certainly worth watching, even if you have already seen "Eat Drink Man Woman," but I would have enjoyed it much more if I hadn't seen the original version. I kept making comparisons throughout the whole movie. Ang Lee's characters just seemed more genuine, the food more mouthwatering, & the story more believable. I wonder if I'd feel the same if I had seen "Tortilla Soup" first...

Details

Official Sites:

Sur La Table

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

31 August 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Tortilla Soup

Filming Locations:

Marshall Fundamental Secondary School - 990 Allen Avenue, Pasadena, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$653,729, 26 August 2001

Gross USA:

$4,467,615

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$4,634,077

Company Credits

Production Co:

Samuel Goldwyn Films, Starz! Encore Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1