Paradise lost, paradise regained

Original 1994 telenovela CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER based on book by Fernando Gaitan has something for everyone--cinematic locations, artful lighting, atmospheric songs, engaging drama, appealing characters and unusual focus--all aspects of the coffee industry of Colombia.  VIX is currently streaming this version.  

CAFE reminds me of idealism expressed in film classic CASABLANCA (see 24 November 2023 blog post "Chivalry in Casablanca" for more comparisons.)  

CAFE's lead actor also appears in 1990 short bilingual film THE TROUBLE WITH TONIA, posted on You Tube by someone who literally found tape in box on a street in Los Angeles.  In this comic & sweet story, he plays actor in an imaginary telenovela (before he was ever cast in a real one), two brief scene that first reflect Tonia's embittered view of the world, then her change of heart. 

After harsh experiences during year after she falls in love for the first time, Gaviota declares typical Cinderella telenovela stories should stop being made, that she doesn't believe in them anymore, tho she does believe in herself being able to better her life.  By end of story, she will have earned both her dreams--yet with a twist.

"The Hero's Journey" based on work of JOSEPH CAMPBELL as described by Disney executive Christopher Vogler (one of his projects was LION KING) in his book THE WRiTER'S JOURNEY might be traced in story of CAFE, as well in telenovela LA MENTIRA, also on VIX (see review of 1998 dvd version in future re-post) which combines with female experience of differing "Heroine's Journey" based on work of a woman psychologist.

Comments below are meant as preview of coming attractions rather than spoilers.  Content of this post had been previously appeared as Borrower review of book form of story proposal for the telenovela on LAPL catalog (which has since vanished, perhaps because such have limited lifespan), so might include a few remarks that had appeared in other reviews or earlier blog posts. 

If you wish to refer to these comments in the future, or share with others, might be good idea to somehow save or print out for your own personal reference library.

     

Some symbolism:  Fire and water imagery used in 1994 telenovela CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER could refer to elements needed to brew coffee.  Expression in Spanish used as title for novel COMO AGUA PARA CHOCOLATE refers to a feeling of agitation--like boiling water--often experienced by people in love. 

Does Lucia--described as colder than a freezer--represent Lucifer?  There's only one letter difference between Spanish words "inVierno" and "inFierno", and Dante's INFERNO is frozen.  

Logo of Vallejo family's business, CAFEXPORT, includes coffee bean divided into two halves which are part of a whole to form letter "O"; there's also sculpture of two figures who may be a man and a woman, one lifting the other.  

Both rivals for love of Gaviota separately give her birthday gift of similar looking gold coffee bean pendant charm.  Symbol of two halves forming one whole may also refer to biblical description of marriage, "two shall become one". 

   

Did you know reason Britain became nation of tea drinkers?  After Golden Age of coffee houses where men met for intellectual discussions, British-owned coffee plantations were wiped out by plant plague known as "rust" (which due to global warming, might return. Breeding resistant strains and other techniques may help, but as warned in CAFE, pesticides can also kill birds).  

This and other history is told by coffee nerd character in CAFE whom Gaviota works with.  He and Sebastian duel with words at international coffee conference for Gaviota's affection.  But pathetic little firework sparkler that pleasant, funny geek puts in her coffee liquor daiquiri to show his feelings for her just can't compete with Sebastian's passionate hillside conflagration.  (Another gift from geek is small individual coffee maker.  He kicks himself after his playing Johann SEBASTIAN Bach's coffee cantata only reminds her of the other man.) 

   

Internet search for 1994 CAFE CON AROMA DE MUJER will turn up photos of protagonists' wedding day in final chapter.  Having lost all his own possessions, his grandmother suggests he wear elegant formal suit that belonged to his late grandfather (almost literal "stepping into shoes" succession).  Like grateful mice did for Disney's kind Cinderella, her flower trimmed bridal gown was made overnight by women of town,  Couple will help area recover from disaster that struck coffee region.

Similarly symbolic costumes are in PARIENTES A LA FUERZA now streaming on Spectrum (carrying out "Amores Perros" imagery, Leticia/Perricia wears dress with houndstooth check print).  I eventually realized PALF is in part inspired by DON QUIXOTE--said by some to have influenced all literature that followed--and the WIZARD OF OZ. 

Resemblances to both classics might also be seen in CAFE:  rather than Sancho Panza quoting traditional proverbs, Gaviota's mother cites telenovelas; fantasy and reality become mixed, chivalry is derided by the self-centered cynical--yet wins in the end.     

Magical realism & other stuff used in Latin American classic novels are also present on TV.  Hmm, Vallejo family's name might refer to "valley", and thus symbolically Freudian, like long pole seen early in story & later, large burning torch, as well as Antherium flowers seen en todas partes.

Lucia prepares afrodisiacal dinner from recipe book (tho not one by Isabel Allende) given her by sister-in-law, because if Sebastian divorces Lucia, sister's own inheritance will go to his ex as there was no prenuptial agreement, situation like Kevin Costner's extremely costly alimony (I'd think bitter parental enmity may hurt children more than going without luxuries, not to mention unspoken message of material things being more important than learning to stand on your own two feet as characters do in both CAFE and CORAZON SALVAJE also on Vix.)  

Evoking film COMO AGUA PARA CHOCOLATE, desperate Lucia's enchanted dinner party affects all who taste it--except for Sebastian, who only dreams of Gaviota--and in Latin American magical realism, his far-distant beloved simultaneously dreams of him. I wonder how actors kept straight faces during scene where bewitched dishes at dinner party include twin round cakes, each topped with single berry, modern version of creativity similar to that under Hollywood film Hay's code.  

Suffering Gaviota, feeling betrayed by Sebastian, once wishes there was inoculation against men.  Love potion from a curandera is secretly given by Lucia to Sebastian. (Note symbolically red & blue vehicles seen thru open window during two consultations with witch doctor).  

Wise woman says after lack of results, application to person already in love must have weakened potion's power, similar to a vaccine) .  Response to witch's potion is like one so frustrating for a cook after slaving over hot stove--it only makes him comment on soup tasting like perfume; "pass the salt".   

Lucia does have a child, which under law pre DNA testing (and perhaps still), husband is presumed father of child borne by wife.  Actually child is by gigolo, conception just before planned artificial insemination which fertility doctor is bribed to not reveal never took place.  (Sebastian says getting sample was worst medical proceedure in his life--pobrecito.)   Expression on face of Gaviota's mother, when told it's like the time she helped veterinarian service cows!)   

Diegetic music--i.e. sounds actually heard by characters rather than added later to soundtrack-- include records by some of Gaviota's favorite singers.  One of my favorite scenes takes place in small bar catering to local country people, where Sebastian gets in touch with his cultural roots by listening to songs playing on marvelous old jukebox, including vintage versions of AMOR PERDIDO, and HOLA SOLEDAD, which like another famous oldie, RODANDO TU ESQUENA, are commentary on what's happening in story.  Some Colombian classics were re-recorded by Charlie Zaa, such as LA POLLERA COLORA, a tune to which tipsy Sebastian dances down cobblestone road--dragging along reluctant female psychologist.

Another example of turning from European culture back to one's homeland is when Sebastian (who went to opera in London where he attended university) invites Gaviota, who loves to sing, to hear performances in Bogota of RIgoleto (she falls asleep on his shoulder, only waking up at fireworks finale) and Aida.  The two end up eating hot dogs at street vendor instead. 

  

Many people work together to create a film or TV series, a collaboration that Tom Hanks aims to show in his novel THE MAKING OF ANOTHER MAJOR MOTION PICTURE MASTERPIECE.  However, lead actor of original 1994 version of CAFE, whose own wife is a writer, described creator of the story, the late Fernando Gaitan as a genius (in interview that may still be viewable of 2021 "Festival En Casa" on PEOPLE EN ESPANOL website).  If you get chance to examine how all the imaginatively interwoven threads form a memorable work of storytelling, you may also agree.  

     

More commentary on CAFE is scheduled for tomorrow, so please "stay tuned"!