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Editorial Review Product Description
THE MISTRESS OF SPICES is a universal immigrant story told through magical realism in the vein of LIKE WATER FOR CHOCOLATE and CHOCOLAT. It is a sensual love story building on the cultural themes of the writers of BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM and WHAT'S COOKING? - what as an immigrant do you choose to keep or leave behind as you assimilate. TILO is an outsider from India who has to come to terms with her new country, America. But as a 'mistress of spices', there are certain rules she must follow. TILO runs a spice store in San Francisco and has a magical gift of seeing into her customers' lives and desires. She gives them different spices to help them get what they want. In order for the magic to work, TILO must obey the rules set out for a mistress - never leave the store, never touch another human, and love only the spices. When DOUG - a handsome, enigmatic American with a secret past - enters her store, TILO's own desires are stirred for the first time. She begins to feel passion for the American and as she becomes closer to DOUG, the spices she has given her other customers begin to misbehave. The more TILO falls in love and begins to defy the rules, the worse the lives of her customers become. TILO must decide. Will she choose forbidden love for an American over devotion to her spices and her traditions? Aishwarya Rai, star of Gurinder Chadha's upcoming BRIDE & PREJUDICE, is confirmed to play TILO. A leading American actor will play DOUG. An exciting range of British Asian actors complete the strong ensemble cast. TILO must decide. Will she choose forbidden love for an American over devotion to her spices and her traditions? ... Read more Customer Reviews (54) 
Aishwarya Rai Fan
If you are an Aishwarya Rai fan, you will absolutely love this movie.The blend of her story, history of spices and her relationship with her customers is fascinating. Makes me wish she owned a Spice Bazar in my own home town!I consider this to be a "must see" of Rai's films.
A Fable about doing the right thing
In the tradition of morality tales and fables, this movie is a great story about doing the right thing.
The movie is a mixture of Bollywood and Hollywood; it is the story of a woman from India who has
located herself in San Francisco.She uses spices to assist people to realize their hopes, dreams, and
desires.In this movie, the spices themselves are another character in this movie.When Dylan
McDermott's character gets hurt, the mistress of spices must choose beyond what she has always known.
The love story is cute, but secondary to the lessons imparted by the spices.This is a great movie
for women from traditional backgrounds to have illustrated for them the sorrows AND joys of moving
beyond traditions; not forsaking traditions but enlarging the paradigm in which traditions exist.
Both old and new ideas have value, and as human beings women must learn how to mix the old and the
new in a balanced way that allows growth without sacrificing the foundations of one's life.
I think this is a positive fable that empowers women without belittling men.I loved this movie.
Spicy and Sweet - Like Chocolate!
I bought this movie after seeing "Bride and Prejudice" and my husband had a fit as Dylan McDermot was in it who is not one of his favorite actors. He was pacified when he saw that Aishwarya Rai was in it. I made him sit and watch it with me which was an absolute delight and joy. Reminded us both very much of "Chocolate" with Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp especially when the description of the spices. Very well done and touching in parts. Visually stunning during certain moments and the music was beautiful. A must see!
loved it!!
loved this movie!!i hadn't seen it before but i love different types of romances/romantic comedies and i like Dylan McDermott and based on some of the other reviews, thought i'd try it. it was fantastic. i watched it several times in a row! the acting's very good, the cinematography's excellent, the whole feel of the movie in general is exotic, of course. highly recommend it!
The Mistress of Spices
Aishwarya Rai is a very beautiful woman, one of those museum pieces- to be seen and admired but not touched, someone that one desires but cannot attain, and that is how this fairytale of a movie unfolds. It is serious yet entertaining. The mysticism associated with spices is a new twist that is not completely out of the realm of imagination but is certainly a streach. How that mysticism is co-related to Tilo, the protagonist's ability to see the future has not been fully explored here. The acting of all the characters is perfect. This is the first time I have seen Aishwarya in a steaming lovemaking scene. That was done to perfection. All in all a good chick flick.
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