WOMAN ON TOP

US, 2000, 92 minutes, Colour.
Penelope Cruz, Murilo Benicio, Harold Perrineau, Mark Feuerstein.
Directed by Fina Tores.

A less than 90 minutes light comedy. Penelope Cruz is particularly delightful as a chef who runs away from Brazil and her callow chauvinist husband. In San Francisco she becomes an overnight sensation on a TV cooking program. Well, her husband tries to win her back (why she even considers him will puzzle most audiences). This is is the slightest and lightest of comedies.

1.A soufflé of a film? Cooking? Magic? Romance?

2.The Hispanic tone of the film? The Brazilian tone? The Brazilian scenes, the San Francisco scenes? The contrast between the two continents?

3.Brazil and San Francisco, the score, the songs?

4.The voice-over, the description of the fairy tale, the worship of the god? The consequences?

5.Isabella and the plane, her being sick, as a girl, motion sickness? Her emotions? The gift? Monica, her relationship with Toninho? Love, marriage, romance?

6.At work in the kitchen, his singing, her skills in her work? The consequences of her motion sickness – especially in lovemaking? Driving? The fact of his infidelity? Sufficient reason?

7.Isabella, going to the United States, the superstitions, the taxi driver? The possibility of jobs, not getting one, the teacher collapsing? Class – and the chillies? Antonino’s background with chillies? The cooking, the ingredients, sensuality, the cut, the aromas?

8.Cliff, his work, personality? The effect of the aromas? The boss, with Alex? Alex following? The class, the call?

9.Isabella and the class, television, her charm?

10.The effect of the magic, Toninho, the lack of fish, his friends, closing up, selling, going to America? The taxi driver, seeing the television, the clash? His singing?

11.Isabella and her success on TV, the producers, the program, the clashes? Her being employed?

12.Cliff and the kiss? Toninho and the fight? Wanting to be a friend?

13.The executives, sexual issues, quitting? Toninho serenading Isabella? The magic and their coming together? How credible?

14.Isabella, her friendship with Monica, flatting with Monica? Monica as a man, as a woman? Mothering, confidante? Advice to Cliff, to Toninho?

15.The cake, the magic, underwater – and love? What did each learn from the experience? The credibility of the happy ending?