Canela
By Tracy Moore,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Subtitled film about grief and cooking is heavy but sweet.
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What you will—and won't—find in this movie.
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What's the Story?
Family restaurant El Molcajete and its traditional Mexican fare were once the pride and joy of Maria (Isabela Yudice), her mother, and her grandmother Dona Tere (Ana Martin), where, on occasion, they all cooked together. But when her daughter passed away, Tere couldn't go back into the kitchen, and now competitive chef Rosi is running the show. Maria just wants to get her grandmother back to cooking at the restaurant so they can continue the tradition together; only, now the two of them must try to stop Rosi from trading the cherished customs of the past in favor of the latest fleeting culinary trends.
Is It Any Good?
CANELA is a vibrantly shot, heavy, but uplifting subtitled film about a young girl's passion for cooking and her love for her family. Set in Mexico, it's a sweet tale of grief, intergenerational love, and what it means to honor tradition and still live in the present, and it nimbly intertwines the pain of grief with the joy of childhood and the mischief of adventure.
Kids (and parents) who enjoy cooking will appreciate the comical kitchen rivalry. Parents can appreciate the arguments here for tradition versus flash-in-the-pan trends as well as the terrific girl role model found in Maria. But, for all its humor, due to more mature themes of grief and loss, it's best for older kids.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about doing things the old way versus the new. What are good reasons for honoring traditions? What are good reasons for keeping up with the times?
Have you ever had a rivalry with a friend or schoolmate over something? What was it? How did it turn out?
Everyone processes grief differently. Have you or has your family lost a person or pet dear to you? How did you deal with it?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: April 12, 2013
- Cast: Ana Martín, Isabel Yudice, Norma Angélica
- Inclusion Information: Latinx actors
- Studio: La Casa de Cine
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Cooking and Baking, Adventures, Great Girl Role Models
- Run time: 101 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: Rated PG for mild thematic elements
- Last updated: February 25, 2023
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