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Without question, Like Water for Chocolate may be deemed a masterpiece.

Set in turn of the century Mexico, the film begins with a recently widowed mother left to raise three daughters alone. According to tradition, the youngest daughter may not marry but must care for her parents until their dying days. Naturally then, it is the youngest daughter, Tita, who falls madly in love with a man she cannot marry. Instead, her vindictive mother arranges for one of her older daughters to marry him and the young man, Pedro, agrees but only to be near the woman he truly loves. With the newlyweds moving in with Tita and her mother, the romantic tension dramatically escalates.

Tita, as the youngest daughter, is forced to immerse herself in the culinary arts, and the elderly cook of the house teaches her to create magical dishes, literally. Putting her very soul into the food she cooks, those who eat it share her deepest emotions. The first example of many comes when she is forced to make her sister's wedding cake. The sadness she feels is projected into the cake as she drops a tear in the batter. The next day, all the guests who eat the cake are suddenly overcome with gloom and despair. The scene powerfully conveys Tita's grief, but also tremendous humor as the magical cake takes effect. But, enough with the plot summary, you should see it for yourself.

All of the film's perfected components mesh to form a truly enthralling cinematic experience, a rarity in today's blockbuster film market. Even more uncommonly, the film is achieving its deserved success as it may become the highest-grossing foreign film of all time. The film has grossed $14 million so far, more than any foreign import since 1979's La Cage aux Folles. The film's distributor, Miramax, believes the film will break the previous record of $19 million. This success may be partly attributed to the clever marketing of this Mexican film not only to the usual arthouse circuit but to the Spanish speaking communities as well.

An even greater factor in its success, Like Water for Chocolate is among the most romantic films to hit theaters in years. Its unique chemistry may be attributed to the fact that a real-life couple made the film: novelist/screenwriter Laura Esquivel and her husband, director Alfonso Arau.

Esquivel's first-rate screenplay adaptation should be commended for its concise structure and its complex characters. Not a single line of dialogue is wasted, and even the smallest supporting characters are memorable.

Director Arau, too, should be commended for assembling a top-notch cast. Lumi Cavazos and Marco Leonardi may go down in film history as two of the greatest screen lovers of all time. As Tita and Pedro, they are unforgettable as the frustrated lovers. Italian actor Leonardi may be best remembered as the teenage Salvatore in the Academy Award-winning Cinema Paradiso from a few years ago. With more screen time in this film, he melts every heart with his boyish smile and dark features. Arau calls him "a good luck charm." Cavazos, as Tita, complements him perfectly. Extremely fair, she invokes great sympathy as a woman tormented by a forbidden love. The film is her story and Cavazos proves herself a radiant, glowing leading lady. The supporting cast are flawless. Regina Torne plays Tita's cruel mother with great conviction. Ironically, she could not marry the man she loved and makes sure her daughter will not either.

The film should also be noted for its outstanding production design. Shot mainly at a vast Mexican ranch, the era of the revolutionaries is effectively recreated. In addition, the costumes throughout are beautifully crafted. Leo Brower provides an outstanding musical score, loveliest and most romantic at the beginning and ending to frame the story.