The story titled. “Like Water for Chocolate” published in 1989 by Laura Esquivel and the film version directed by Alfonso Arau in 1993 are both similar, as it relates to the plot. Linda Cahir’s states that film translations are either literal, radical, or traditional.  “Like Water for Chocolate” is based around Tita and Pedro, they are in love, but not able to marry one another because of a lifelong family tradition that she must obey. 

 

As stated before, both the film and the text versions of this story are very similar, but there are some features that are different. I will explain that the translation is traditional because it maintains the overall traits of the written work but revamps particular details in those particular ways that the filmmakers see as necessary or fitting, according to Linda Cahir’s ideas. In order to prove this I will describe Tita’s recipes and how they are shown in the film. Second, I will discuss Tita and Pedro dying in the film, compared to how it is described in the text. Third, I will explore the scene where Tita stands up to Mama Elena and how the text version picks up on that encounter. 

 

For starters, cooking is a big theme and action that surrounds the love story between Pedro and Tita. Cooking is a way for Tita to express her love and insert that love into all of the meals she prepares and this can be identified both in the book and in the text. “From the day on, Tita’s domain was the kitchen, where she grew vigorous and healthy on a diet of teas and thin corn gruels. This explains the sixth sense Tita developed about everything concerning food” (Pg. 5). The film shows Tita almost always in the kitchen and this is a major symbol. The recipes that Tita used were highlighted in the text, as well as how everything was prepared. The film just visualizes the food and the reactions to the characters when they ate it, the text once again going in depth with details. 

 

In the film, Tita and Pedro are being intimate and surprisingly Pedro passes away. “She could feel Pedro’s heart pounding against her chest. Suddenly the pounding ceased. A mortal silence spread through the room. It took her but a moment to realize Pedro was dead. With Pedro died the possibility of ever again lighting her inner fire, with him went all the candles”(Pg. 175). The film captured the intimacy and Pedro dying, alongside Tita also taking her life by swallowing matches. The matches would symbolize the love she and Pedro shared with one another, and how the passion literally set her soul on fire. The difference between the film and the text in this case is that the text really described the background of why Tita decided to take her life and the film visually just showed the audience Tita’s actions after Pedro’s unexpected death. 

 

Mama Elena appeared to be bitter and angry, the film brought these characteristics to the forefront. She constantly insulted Tita, criticized her, and even slapped her in the film, leading to Tita’s nose to bleed. It was not until the almost ending of the film that Tita spoke up and stood up to her mom, stating how much she hated her, Mama Elena was surprised by her statements. The book picks up a little more of how Tita felt afterwards but the film just shows Mama Elena disappearing but getting her revenge by harming Pedro. 

 

In Summary, both the text version and film bring these characters to life in different ways. The overall theme in this story to me is to not let family hinder you from your destiny. Tita spoke out and against her mother and followed her heart, even though her mother believed that it was morally wrong. Mama Elena suffered with her own personal demons and her relationship with Tita suffered because she was not honest about her life path. “Like Water for Chocolate” has many different messages and symbols in its entirety that readers can interpret from and that is what makes this piece of literature engaging and realistic.