There are some amazing films that are hidden under the disguise of visual outlook, bad reviews, genre and bad marketing promotion. I usually go looking for this kind of film to watch and add them to my watchlist. In the end they are always worth it and they make you wonder why people haven't discovered them yet.
Watching this miniseries was a rollercoaster of emotions. It was very good, it is not a hallmark type of movie, it is not an ordinary chick flick, and it is also not the usual romance movie we are used to watching every time. It doesn't have a happy ending, but I can assure that it has the typical storyline of how life can be unfair.
"From Scratch” is a miniseries with only eight episodes that premiered on 21st of October 2022. It was created by Attica Locke and Tembi Locke. This miniseries was inspired by the memoir of Tembi of the same title. It starred Zoe Saldaña, Eugenio Mastrandrea, Danielle Deadwyler, Judith Scott, Kellita Smith, Lucia Sardo, Paride Benassai and Roberta Rigano. Also, it was distributed by Netflix.
Now, the storyline of this miniseries is not your usual romance story. It is a storyline that is carved out from a real life's event. The plot of this miniseries revolves around an American lady (Amy) who went to Italy for an art workshop but in the end, she fell deeply in love with a Sicilian chef (Lino).
Afterwards, Lino left his life to move with Amy to build a life together in Los Angeles while living in Amy's sister's apartment. This arrangement was for a short period until Lino could find a job as a chef. Not long, they got married in Scilly regardless that Lino’s family were absent and didn't consent to the marriage.
After some weeks of consistent hunting for a job (owned his own restaurant) Lino finally got a job and immediately things started looking good for both of them. I was happy for both of them until the universe said it wouldn't be so. Not long after, Lino developed cancer which became a positive diagnosis after his visit to the hospital. Immediately they began treatment. This moment wasn't good for both of them. What happens? Will their marriage survive this new challenge? Will there be a happy ending?
What I Love About This miniseries.
”From Scratch” is a love story, but a pragmatic one. It is not the usual one we are used to watching. The first thing I love about this series is the fact that it is unfiltered or sugarcoated. It is infused with alot if facts, life lessons and moral values. In the third episode I think, Amy's mother made a speech during their wedding. She said, ”Marriage is like a shoe. Well, like a journey in a shoe. At some point in time, no matter what you do, how tight you tie them, you’re going to get a pebble in your shoe. What most people don’t know. Hell, some of y’all up in here right now don’t know—that a good marriage permits you to face that pebble before it becomes a boulder. Because limping ain’t living”
What she said was simply the definition of what marriage is, the commitments involved and work needed for a successful one.
Again this miniseries depicted how patriarchy, traditions, and self-imposed principles destroyed Lino’s family and life growing up as a boy. His father was the one with male ego, he was so angry at Lino for choosing to be a chef. This ego created a wide gap in their relationships and it made Lino separate from his family. Lino’s father's principles were discriminatory against Amy and it almost made him not realize the kind of man his son has grown into.
This miniseries also perfectly portrayed how life can be unstable, fickle, short and prone to constant hard changes. There is this saying, ”live every day of your life like last”. Life's too short to not enjoy its pleasure, hold on to principles that restrict you, grief or grudge. Amy and Lino were a happy couple, so full of life and vibrant but all of a sudden life decided to happen to them. This gradually snuffs out their bright light leaving them with pain, stress, and darkness.
My Review And Rating.
I enjoyed watching this miniseries and I have added it to the list of movies that made me cry. I hardly cry when watching movies, but this miniseries did touch me on a deeper level. I was crying uncontrollably, it was emotional.
The plot was written well. It is full of suspense, a little bit of tension and filled with happy moments. I love how the scenes were arranged, the camera work was excellent, the visual outlook was colorful, as it showcased beautiful places in italy. The directorial style was well planned and top-notch. The cinematography was amazing and I love how this film was disguised as a cliche love story, but in the actual sense it wasn't.
Let's talk about Zoe’s and Eugenio’s performances. These two actors were the stars of this miniseries. Their chemistry was wonderful, didn't seem forced, it all came natural to both of them, especially Zoe. I say she is an amazing actor that I will always look forward to watching any of films. They both brought to life their characters seamlessly by portraying every emotion, personality, and energy required. The rest of the supporting actors were also amazing. None of the characters fell flat. I say the cast of this miniseries is EXCEPTIONAL!
Rating this miniseries, I will give it 8.8 out 10 stars. It was that good. It is a good miniseries a family can watch without the children of course. No profanity, but there are steamy scenes. I recommend this miniseries to everyone and especially to romance drama lovers.
All images above are from the movie screenshots
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