Laura Esquivel’s popular 1989 novel Like Water for Chocolate is getting a television adaptation by HBO after the success of its 1992 film adaptation. The romantic drama series follows two lovers whose family forbids romance.
The Spanish-language period drama takes the audience back to a bygone era. It chronicles the journey of Tita de la Garza, played by Azul Guaita, who gets torn between her duty to her family and her love for Pedro Múzquiz, played by Andrés Baida.
As Tita struggles to express herself, she finds solace in cooking and establishes a magical connection with food that makes everyone feel her emotions. Like the novel, HBO’s Like Water for Chocolate is set in 1910s Mexico against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution.
Like Water for Chocolate takes place in the 1910s Mexico
The story of Like Water for Chocolate takes place in northern Mexico in the 1910s. This was the time of the Mexican Revolution, during which people fought for their rights and resisted old traditions.
This background of conflict influences the narrative, as Tita’s life is burdened by her family’s customs, especially a rule that says the youngest daughter must stay unmarried to take care of her mother.
Hence, Tita is forced to give up her dream of marrying her true love, Pedro. Instead, she has to live under the control of her strict mother, Mama Elena, played by Irene Azuela. The family lives on a ranch in northern Mexico, which ideally should be a place of comfort but feels more like a prison to Tita.
This represents how many women during that time had very few choices and were expected to obey their families and follow tradition. Though the revolution does not directly impact Tita’s daily life, it adds tension to the story.
As the country fights for freedom and a new future, Tita struggles to break free from her family’s rules. She eventually uses food as a way to express her feelings and desires. Each dish she prepares reflects her emotions, usually held back in her daily life.
Throughout the story, the show highlights the need for personal freedom and the fight between old traditions and new desires, just like in the revolution happening outside the family’s ranch.
Like Water for Chocolate is a timeless story despite its period setting
Though Like Water for Chocolate is set in the early 20th century, the themes and ideas it represents hold value in the current times. Salma Hayek Pinault, the series's executive producer, said in a statement to Variety that, like Tita in the show, women still have to fight for equality in the modern world.
She said:
“I wanted to tell a coming-of-age story that shows the passage of finding your own identity and fighting for it, detaching yourself from the anxiety of disappointing your parents and learning to take ownership of your life.”
“Historically, these issues have been a bigger challenge for women, and while we have improved upon this greatly, equality has still not been achieved.”
Actress Irene Azuela echoed Hayek Pinault's thoughts, stating how women still feel guilty about their desires and face struggles in their everyday lives. She added:
Trending
“I think we, as women, are still struggling to know our ways without the gaze of the others. We’ve accomplished a lot, but still are constrained by ideas that make us feel guilty about feeling desire.”
Like Water for Chocolate premiered on HBO Latino in the US on November 3, 2024, and releases new episodes on Sundays. The show is available to stream on Max globally.
Reply
