Magic is everywhere in the 1993 film Like Water for Chocolate. Itยs in the food Tita cooks for her family and friends, itยs in the matches that Tita lights when her lover Pedro dies and, of course, itยs in the filmยs magical realism style. Tita, a young Mexican girl, is forbidden to marry her one love, Pedro, by her controlling mother. When Pedro comes to ask for Titaยs hand, her mother gives him one of Titaยs sisters instead. Forced to live near each other but forbidden to act on their feelings, the two spend a lifetime desiring each other but maintaining the proper decorum. (Thatยs where the film gets it name from: Water properly prepared for hot chocolate appears still on the surface but is in fact boiling just below.) After years of sacrifice and unmet needs, the two finally consummate their relationship, but with deadly results. Like Water for Chocolate begins at sunset. Domy Books, 1709 Westheimer. For information, call 713-523-3669 or visit www.domystore.com. Free.
Sun., Dec. 7, 8:30 p.m., 2008
This article appears in Dec 4-10, 2008.