I just saw this film twice because I loved it so much. Having lived in Spain for 10 years, I think I am the most equipped to comment on this film. I think this film captures, through some excellent acting on Olivia Molina's part, the remarkable transformation of a simple village girl to a sophisticated woman and internationally successful chef. This film is not about Sofia (Olivia Molina) not being able to choose between two men. She in fact loves these two men and is consistent throughout the film that she loves both of them and wants to be together with both. However, life and traditional thinking forces her to marry one of them. This film in not about the passion that food can bring to one's life but the passion that a woman brings to food and all those around her. "Viva Sofia" Excellent writing, casting, acting, directing and editing. After seeing this film I wanted to fall in love again……and again!

This film is about a village woman who has got the skills to become a five star chef. She has to choose between the man she loves and the career she longs for. Or does she? "Mediterranean Food" concentrates on the relationship between Sophia, Toni and Frank; while food is delegated to the background. Instead of celebrating the culinary art, it feels as if Sophia just happens to be someone who can cook. This aspect is unlike the other romantic comedy involving food, such as "Bella Martha".That is not to say "Mediterranean Food" is not enjoyable though. In fact it is very entertaining. It has a lot of subtly funny situations; and plenty more erotic scenes to excite the senses. I find "Mediterranean Food" enjoyable.

I saw this last month at the Palm Springs International Film Festival where it played to packed theaters. This is a fun romantic-comedy from veteran writer/director Joaquín Oristrell and co-written with Oristrell by another film vet, Yolanda Garcia Serrano. Sophia (Olivia Molina) has been raised working in her parents small family restaurant. She can't make up her mind between two men she's known since childhood. Toni (Paco León) is faithful, hardworking and perfect husband material. Frank (Alfonso Bassave) is a slick, handsome jet setter who is in the same profession of food service as Sophia but Frank has upscale industry connections and realizes Sophia has the talent at cooking to be a five star chef. Sophia wants to follow her dreams of owning an upscale restaurant and knows Frank has the keys to helping her but she also does not want to lose Toni so the three come to an unlikely arrangement that will keep them all together. It's a bright and clever script with great comedic dialog and a certain innocence of simple fun about it. A great cast and excellent support from Carmen Balagué as Sophia's mother Loren. Wonderful cinematography by Albert Pascual and a beautiful on screen look by production designer Lorenç Miquel and set decoration by Elisabet Diaz. This is an entertaining film and the audiences at the PSIFF loved it. I would give this a 9.0 out of 10 and recommend it.

Might have enjoyed this more on the stage as some kind of a farce but as a rom-com (or whatever it was supposed to be) it didn't work for me. Very jerky scenario which seems only to benefit the Keira Knightly lookalike without actually succeeding in making her a likable character. In fact all the characters were shallow and inconsistent and certain scenes intended to titillate the spectator appeared ridiculous rather than farcical (eg when one of her children walks into the bedroom).The references to cooking and food added nothing to the storyline, when in fact they could have held the whole thing together.On the other hand, the English subtitles were quite frankly hysterical (I think I laughed more at the subtitle boobies than I did at anything in the script). Grammatical errors, typos and spelling mistakes in every line.