Monday, October 13, 2008

FUERA DE CARTA

FUERA DE CARTA
(CHEF'S SPECIAL)


Javier Camara, Lola Duenas, Fernando Tejero, Benjamin Vicuna


Pelikula: Spanish Film Festival



A delightful comedy that dwells on a myriad of topics among them cooking, romance and family bonding moments. A fitting way to end this year's 7th Spanish Film Festival as it was voted the audience choice film. I was lucky I was able to get tickets for three just in the nick of time before it was fully booked!

The film centers around Maxi, an ebullient gay chef whose main obsession is to get a star rating for his restaurant Xantarella from the Michelin group. Complications arise when his kids (15 year old son and 6 year old daughter) from his previous scam marriage show up at his door upon the sudden death of their mother. Maxi's life is turned upside down as he tries to run a successful restaurant, be a good father/mother to his children as well as jump start his budding love life.

A realistic portrayal about the ups and downs of a stressed out person leading a hectic lifestyle. His precious time is stretched out way thin from all angles. The taxing demands of his business, his futile attempt to be a nurturing parent as well as his passionate desire to follow the dictates of his heart.

An engagingly fun movie filled with its fair share of drama, comedy and everything else in between. The quirky plot was commendable in the way it deals with homosexuality in a mature manner. It was made more so endearing by its well developed characters with their multi-dimensional personalities. A highly entertaining film entirely in Spanish with English subtitles.

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