Like Water for Chocolate: This story begins in 1895 in Mexico, at the birth of her Great Aunt Tita to Elena and Juan. As the youngest daughter, tradition dictated that Tita would devote her life to caring for her mother and could never marry. Upon the death of her father, Tita being the youngest was placed in the charge of Natach and raised as a servant. Tita cooked and served her two sisters, Rosaura the oldest, Gertudis and her mother whom seemed to despise her. Over the years Tita came to know and fall in love with a local boy, Pedro. Pedro too had fallen in love with Tita, and in 1910 asked for her hand in marriage. Elena refused to allow any marriage between Pedro and Tita, or Tita ever. Instead Elena offered Rosaura hand in marriage instead. As a servant Tita was placed in the position of preparing for her sister�s marriage to Pedro, the man she loved. Maybe it was out of love that Elena treated her daughter poorly, forcing Tita to accept her position in life so she would not dream of marriage and having children. On the eve of the wedding Tita cried in the kitchen as she made the wedding cake, and a tear entered the batter. Over time Tita begins to fulfill her desires for Pedro by cooking wonderful foods for him; foods that fulfilled sensual desires as well as the stomach. To fulfill the long lonely hours at night, Tita knit.
A son was born to Pedro and delivered by Tita, but it was not an easy birth and Rosaura could not nurse him. Privately Tita attempts to nurse the child and starts to produce milk; she, Pedro and the baby form a bond that does not escape the eyes of Elena, and she proceeds to sent Rosaura, Pedro and the baby way. When news of the baby�s death reaches Tita she venomously blames her mother for all the pain and unhappiness she has caused. A local widowed doctor (John) is called in and removes Tita from the house and takes charge of caring for her. Tita would not eat nor speak, but he nurtured her body as well as spirit and gave her a safe place to emotionally heal. As Tita regained her health she grew to love John, and the stories he told her of his Indian family.
Upon the death of her mother who was attacked and brutally murdered, Tita returned home to the family ranch to live, as does Pedro and Rosaura. Though Tita has pledged herself to marry John, but in his absence, she and Pedro become intimate. This act of sin causes Tita to start having visions of her mother, and seeing her faces everywhere. During one such sighting her mother curses Tita and any child she might carry after which Tita confronted her mother�s ghost with the knowledge of Gertrudis� parentage and the sins that her mother had committed. The visions disappeared by in its place Pedro had a freak accident and needed intensive care; Tita was the only one he wanted to care for him.
Shortly there after, Rosaura bore Pedro a second child, which Tita also delivers. When Tita hears of Rosaura�s plan to continue this tradition and raise her daughter just as Tita had been Tita she quarrels with her. Strangely, several days later, Rosaura dies of intestinal problems leaving Pedro and Tita to raise the child.
On the day of Esperanza�s wedding to John�s son in 1934, Tita and Pedro are finally alone and now able to publicly acknowledge there love for one another. While in the act of passion Pedro dies, in her shock and grief at the loss of Pedro, Tita recalls something that John had told her. Tita poisons herself by ingesting match sulfur, and the house where they lay turns to blazes. The entire ranch is lost except one item found amongst the rubble, Tita�s recipe journal. In it is all the wonderful dishes that Tita had so passionately and lovingly prepared for Pedro, placed there to be passed down from generation to generation.
Part B:
STAND AND DELIVER: The movie is based on true events that took place in Eastern Los Angeles with teacher Jaime Escalante. The movie is about teacher Jaime Escalante and the way he teaches kids that go to Garfield high advanced math to get college credit from the Calculus AP exam.
Jaime Escalante inspired 18 of his students to sit for the National Advance Placement Calculus Exam; despite the fact that the school faculty doesn�t think the students will be smart enough to pass it and most of the students parents are unsupportive given that they see little value in education. Olmos is a delight as Escalante, a man who throws in a well paid job in computing to pursue his first love of teaching, and fearlessly puts everything on the line to demand he can teach his students calculus because 'basic math is too easy' for them. Great performance also from Lou Diamond Phillips as a student torn between 'the hood' and the promise of a 'straight' future. I have seen this movie many times and each time I am struck by the fact that these kids were so lucky to have this kind of teacher. It's pretty realistic in terms of school life and commendably explores the pressures of the students also (largely a cast of unknowns but all turn in great performances).
Jaime Escalante was a computer programmer that decided to become a teacher. He gave up his job as a programmer thinking that he was going to become a high school computer science teacher. When he arrived for his first day at Garfield high school he was rudely surprised. He learned that he wouldn�t be teaching computers but he would be teaching math. He found the class and went in. All the students were out of order and rude. He requested that everyone take their seats and the non English-speaking students sit in the front. A false bell rudely interrupted him and all the students left. When the students came back to class two Spanish pupils arrived one, net head, the other finger man. Finger man told Jaime, to pass him, but Jaime said that he had to earn his grade. The next class Jaime dressed as a cook to teach the kids fractions. This started the relationship between him and the kids. One student, Angel, stuck out; he requested two books one for home and one for class so his friends wouldn�t see him with them. Another student, Ana, has to work in her fathers business instead of going to collage. Jaime changes this by talking to her father. Then there is Poncho, a born mechanic; he changes his life by taking Jaime�s class, for the better. Jaime decides to teach the kids algebra, because he thinks they are smart enough for it. When he feels that they are doing very well he announces he is going to teach then calculus. The students must stay until five o�clock everyday, no vacations, and Saturdays. They aren�t happy but they all do it hesitantly. Poncho struggles and threatens to leave, but he ends pulling through. It is now Christmas and Jaime isn�t spending enough time with his family. He teaches all day then volunteers as an English teacher at night. One day while teaching English he has a heart attack. The kids are very sad. It doesn�t take him long but he comes back to prepare them for the AP test. The students take the AP test and everyone passes. The AP review board finds this weird because these kids are poor Spanish kids with no future. Little does he know they retake the test and pass.
Jaime goes down in the record books for proving anything is possible. This is a very touching story. It shows that even though kids are poor and Spanish it doesn�t mean they aren�t smart. These kids break the stereotype and pull through. Also this movie shows that anyone is capable of anything. When I watched it struck me as very inspirational. I believe now that I can do anything I want if I put my mind to it. I can�t believe the things that people from different ethnic backgrounds must do to be believed. Jaime is a great role model for all teachers. All teachers should strive to become like Jaime.
