Mostly Martha (Bella Martha) (2001)
92%RT Audience Score: 89%
Awards & Nominations: 1 nomination
Mostly Martha may have a predictable plot, but it still feels charming and fresh, and the food will make you hungry.
Mostly Martha is a delicious romantic comedy that will leave you craving for more. The film centers around a strict German chef and a charming Italian cook who bring the heat both in and out of the kitchen. The food scenes are mouth-watering and the chemistry between the two leads is sizzling. While the plot may be predictable, the film’s charm and heart make up for it. It’s the perfect movie to watch with a glass of wine and a plate of pasta. Bon appétit!
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated PG for some sensuality and language
Year of Release
2007
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:SDDS Dolby Digital DTS
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Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
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Runtime:1h 45m
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Language(s):English
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Country of origin:United States
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Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Aug 16, 2002 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 1, 2013
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Martina Gedeck, Sergio Castellitto, Maxime Foerste, August Zirner, Sibylle Canonica, Katja Studt, Ulrich Thomsen, directed by Sandra Nettelbeck, written by Sandra Nettelbeck, comedy, drama, German language, PG rating, box office gross $4.2M, reviewed by Jonathan Rosenbaum, Emanuel Levy, Neil Smith, Peter Travers, Roger Moore, Marc Savlov, Leigh Paatsch, food, chef, restaurant, Italian cuisine, therapy, family, grief, love, romance, kitchen, order, chaos, obsession, charm, predictability, commercial appeal, class, Hollywood, catharsis, sex, eroticism, German film, English subtitles, anger management, surprises, tragedy, niece, sous-chef, therapist, Italian chef, precision, spotless, flat aspect ratio, Dolby sound mix, Paramount Pictures, Karl Baumgartner, Christoph Friedel, produced by
Worldwide gross: $92,601,050
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $132,657,292
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 891
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 14,466,444
US/Canada gross: $43,107,979
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $61,755,107
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 977
US/Canada opening weekend: $11,704,357
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $16,767,286
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 739
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $28,000,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $40,111,901
Production budget ranking: 955
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $21,600,259
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $70,945,132
ROI to date (est.): 115%
ROI ranking: 881
Sergio Castellitto – Mario
Maxime Foerste – Lina
August Zirner – Therapist
Ulrich Thomsen – Sam Thalberg
Sibylle Canonica – Frida
Director(s)
Sandra Nettelbeck
Writer(s)
Sandra Nettelbeck
Producer(s)
Karl Baumgartner, Christoph Friedel
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
1 nomination
Academy Awards
All Critics (85) | Top Critics (31) | Fresh (78) | Rotten (7)
This well-made and entertaining romantic comedy drama provides ample proof that German writer-director Sandra Nettelbeck can turn out a classier commercial feature than most of her Hollywood contemporaries.
October 16, 2014
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
Though utterly predictable, this kitchen-set romantic comedy about a severe German woman and a fun-loving Italian cook, has a certain charm, and it’s about food, which speaks well for commercial appeal.
July 17, 2007 | Rating: B
Emanuel Levy
Variety
TOP CRITIC
May 6, 2003 | Rating: 3/5
Neil Smith
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
Nettelbeck serves the tastiest film about food and sex since Big Night.
October 2, 2002 | Rating: 1/4
Peter Travers
Rolling Stone
TOP CRITIC
Nettelbeck has given the viewer a genuine catharsis and a cinematic meal that isn’t perfect — but is all the better for it.
September 19, 2002 | Rating: 5/5
Roger Moore
Orlando Sentinel
TOP CRITIC
Nettelbeck’s alliterative subtext — food equals love, life, and longing — is more or less obvious from the get-go, but the excellent performance from Gedeck and Castellitto belie the film’s straightforward nature.
September 15, 2002 | Rating: 3.5/5
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
Touching meditation on the mending of hearts and mastering of cuisines.
September 11, 2020 | Rating: 3/5
Leigh Paatsch
Herald Sun (Australia)
Predictable but still charming German romantic comedy, centering on the erotic appeal of food
June 17, 2011 | Rating: B
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
German film about finding family.
January 2, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Sarah Wenk
Common Sense Media
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 4/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review
April 5, 2003 | Rating: 4/5
Andrea Chase
Killer Movie Reviews
Great food scenes, good story, real characters.
March 6, 2003 | Rating: B+
Mark Robison
Reno Gazette-Journal…
Plot
A master chef, Kate, lives her life like she runs the kitchen at upscale 22 Bleecker Restaurant in Manhattan
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Sergio Castellitto plays the charming and carefree Italian chef who clashes with Martha in Mostly Martha.
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