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Mostly Martha

Play trailer Poster for Mostly Martha PG 2002 1h 45m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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92% Tomatometer 85 Reviews 89% Popcornmeter 5,000+ Ratings
Martha (Martina Gedeck) relies on her culinary skills as her primary means of communication. She lives for her work and presides with obsessive care over her spotless, precise kitchen. When a fateful accident leaves Lina (Maxime Foerste), her 8-year-old niece, in her care, Martha's orderly life begins to come undone. When the owner is consequently forced to bring in help, Martha and the new charming and carefree Italian chef (Sergio Castellitto) are instantly at odds.
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Mostly Martha

Mostly Martha

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Critics Consensus

Mostly Martha may have a predictable plot, but it still feels charming and fresh, and the food will make you hungry.

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Critics Reviews

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Jonathan Rosenbaum Chicago Reader 10/16/2014
This well-made and entertaining romantic comedy drama provides ample proof that German writer-director Sandra Nettelbeck can turn out a classier commercial feature than most of her Hollywood contemporaries. Go to Full Review Peter Travers Rolling Stone 10/02/2002
1/4
Nettelbeck serves the tastiest film about food and sex since Big Night. Go to Full Review Marc Savlov Austin Chronicle 09/15/2002
3.5/5
Nettelbeck's alliterative subtext -- food equals love, life, and longing -- is more or less obvious from the get-go, but the excellent performance from Gedeck and Castellitto belie the film's straightforward nature. Go to Full Review Leigh Paatsch Herald Sun (Australia) 09/11/2020
3/5
Touching meditation on the mending of hearts and mastering of cuisines. Go to Full Review Emanuel Levy EmanuelLevy.Com 06/17/2011
B
Predictable but still charming German romantic comedy, centering on the erotic appeal of food Go to Full Review Sarah Wenk Common Sense Media 01/02/2011
4/5
German film about finding family. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Stephen C @bob25009 Nov 3 Success in 1.75 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Copyright 2013-2025 by Paramount Pictures!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Rated PG for Thematic Material and Mild Language!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Filippos S Jan 23 A simple beautiful simple story. It's worth a look. See more graeme o 01/30/2023 Perfectly 'prepared'. Whilst by 15 minutes in the likely plot is anticipated, this just heightens the pleasure. Like a fine meal you might say. The acting is pitch perfect and the scenery n production in harmony. The film is not food porn, but a reflection on food preparation as an act of love but also showmanship. Those themes may be corny, but they are kept implicit. Beneath that is a tale of loneliness transcended. That Hollywood blundered in and tried for a less European or humanistic remake speaks volumes. See more 06/15/2020 Nice film, It makes you feel good. Those are good actors. The story flows naturally and it will give you a good time. No pretentious. See more Frances H 07/20/2019 Loved this sweet, poignant, charming movie about the huge life changes to a food-obsessed cook's life and how it changes when she has to take care of her niece after her sister dies and also has to adjust to a new sous chef in her kitchen, whose outlook on life and food is far different from hers! Loved it! See more 11/21/2016 Quiet film that is a delight for the senses. See more Read all reviews
Mostly Martha

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Cast & Crew

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Sandra Nettelbeck

Director

Martina Gedeck

Martha Klein

Sergio Castellitto

Mario

Maxime Foerste

Lina

August Zirner

Therapist

Ulrich Thomsen

Sam Thalberg

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Mostly Martha

Martina Gedeck (left) as Martha, Katja Studt (center) as Lea, and Sergio Castellitto as Mario cook up fun and laughter in MOSTLY MARTHA. Martina Gedeck as Martha, and Sergio Castellitto as Mario cook up romance in Sandra Nettelbeck's MOSTLY MARTHA. Martina Gedeck as Martha, and Sergio Castellitto as Mario cook up fun and laughter in Sandra Nettelbeck's MOSTLY MARTHA. Mostly Martha (2001) Mostly Martha (2001) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Martha (Martina Gedeck) relies on her culinary skills as her primary means of communication. She lives for her work and presides with obsessive care over her spotless, precise kitchen. When a fateful accident leaves Lina (Maxime Foerste), her 8-year-old niece, in her care, Martha's orderly life begins to come undone. When the owner is consequently forced to bring in help, Martha and the new charming and carefree Italian chef (Sergio Castellitto) are instantly at odds.
Director
Sandra Nettelbeck
Producer
Karl Baumgartner, Christophe Friedel
Screenwriter
Sandra Nettelbeck
Distributor
Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Palomar
Rating
PG (Thematic Material|Mild Language)
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
German
Release Date (Theaters)
Aug 16, 2002, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jul 1, 2013
Box Office (Gross USA)
$4.2M
Runtime
1h 45m
Sound Mix
Dolby Stereo, Dolby Digital, Dolby A, Surround, Dolby SR
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.85:1)
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