With the release in 1992 of Like Water for Chocolate, El Mariachi, and Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down, Mexican cinema was once again gaining international acclaim. In this essay I will explore in detail the curious
Mexican film, Like Water for Chocolate (Como Agua Para Chocolate). Like Water for Chocolate, upon first viewing, is likely to create a certain feeling of uneasiness in the viewer. Yet, it is doubtful that the viewer in this initial experience will notice the complex of relationships I describe herein. The analysis I describe is one arrived at after repeated viewings, analysis, and research.
Like Water for Chocolate does not lend itself well to linear analysis. To subject the film to a traditional, western analysis, or even to a strict close reading, would likely provide little insight. …
