Tortilla Soup

About the movie

Retired Mexican-American chef Martin Naranjo (Hector Elizondo) shares a Los Angeles, California house with his three gorgeous, but single, adult daughters. Though he long ago lost his ability to taste, Martin still lives to cook incredibly lavish dinners for his loved ones and to serve them in a family-style ritual at traditional sit-down meals. Although the women humor their father's old-fashioned ways, each of them is searching for fulfillment outside the family circle. College student Maribel (Tamara Mello) is growing increasingly frustrated with the singles scene and wants a steady man; gorgeous career woman Carmen (Jacqueline Obradors) is fed up with her boyfriend and his wandering eye; meanwhile, eldest daughter Leticia (Elizabeth Peña), who has suppressed her own romantic longings, senses something missing in her life. Things take a turn for the romantic when Dad, a widower, meets a vivacious divorcée on the lookout for a mate and each of his daughters, in turn, finds someone. But they'll all discover that the recipe for happiness may call for some unexpected ingredients.—Sujit R. Varma