Yesterday afternoon I was prevented from catching a 3:20 pm Santa Barbara Film Festival screening of Ricardo de Montreuil’s Mistura. But I saw it this morning and lo and behold, it’s fully approvable — a fall-and-rise saga of Norma (Barbara Mori), a somewhat older elitist who’s forced to cope with personal upheaval by overcoming cultural prejudice while exploring the glorious riches of French-Peruvian cuisine.
It’s basically about survival through rebirth, sensual discovery and the shirking of shitty attitudes in the wake of a shattering divorce…quite a mouthful!
It’s also another sublime foodie film in the vein of Tran Anh Hùng‘s The Taste of Things (i.e., The Pot au Feu) and Sandra Nettlebeck‘s Mostly Martha.
Set in 1960s Peru (apparently Lima), Norma’s privileged life collapses when her husband’s infidelity results in her being cut loose from elite social circles. She attempts to restart her life as some kind of food entrepeneur or restaurant owner, but is first obliged to overcome certain cultural prejudices (social, culinary) she acquired during her well-heeled marriage.
This is one of those personal-struggle-and=growth films that feels wonderfully, culturally and organically alive.
May I admit to a prejudice on my own? I’ve never had much interest in visiting Peru or for that matter South America — I’ve only been to Argentina once, and that was 20 years ago. But now, thanks to Mistura, I’m thinking about making the trek someday. I feel slightly awakened.
Norma is a compelling character because of the realistic prejudices that define her early on, and because she taps into an inner moxie that helps her struggle through by grappling with a challenging but ultimately rewarding reality.
Norma’s butler, warmly played by César Ballumbrosio, serves as her coach and moral compass — a good fellow to have in your corner.
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