This is a story filled with happy moments and is as sweet as the almond cake that Miguel makes for every celebration. Birthdays, Saints Days, weddings and the Annual Queen festival...none of them would be complete without Miguel's almond cake, based on a secret family recipe. Everybody loves Miguel especially Angela who lives next door.
Not everyone can express their love in words. Miguel is one of those. He admits he expresses his feelings through his hands always busy creating delicious mouth-watering delicacies in the family kitchen. If ever there was a passionate man, it is Muguel, a passion for pleasing others through his non-stop devotion to his work.
If you enjoyed "Babette's Feast", you will also enjoy this film. As Miguel decorates his assortment of cakes with icing and almonds and blobs of vanilla cream you can almost smell that wonderful perfume that pervades the kitchen when the oven doors are opened. Angela says Miguel smells like all his creations. He smells of fresh bread and vanilla and sweet almond meal.
Miguel's shyness (well-portrayed in this film) makes it impossible for him to make advances towards Angela, but he does summon up enough courage to create a large almond cake with the words "I love you" on top. He puts it in the fridge for the right moment. Bur Fate can play nasty tricks!
Free-spirited Angela frustrated by Miguel's non-committal nature marries a lawyer whom she meets at the University Law School and they move to Madrid but her thoughts are always with Miguel whom she leaves behind in the little Spanish village.
What I like about this film is the message of sincerity and love and tenderness that each of the characters portray. Even in moments of disappointment there is no hatred or spite or vengeance. The director has shown great skill in creating this pervading mood of kindness and thoughtfulness towards others. One feels that the emotions are genuine.
This is a film to be seen and savoured like one of Miguel's little delicacies created with love and devotion to his art.
