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Book's Grossest Scene Made Wholesome for TV
19 Feb
Summary
- A graphic book scene involving Tita's wedding cake was altered for the series.
- The original novel depicted guests vomiting after eating the tainted cake.
- The TV adaptation changed the cake's effect to cause guests to cry instead.
Irene Azuela, who portrays Mama Elena in HBO's Like Water for Chocolate, shared a notable difference between the beloved novel and its television adaptation. The series, set during the Mexican Revolution, reimagined a particularly visceral scene from the book.
In the second episode of Season 1, Tita is compelled to bake her sister's wedding cake while heartbroken. The novel describes Tita crying into the batter, becoming ill, and causing guests to vomit upon consumption due to the magical realism element of her emotions affecting the food.
However, the Salma Hayek-produced series adapted this moment differently. Instead of the guests experiencing violent sickness, the magical effect of Tita's cake was altered to make everyone cry, offering a less graphic but emotionally resonant outcome.
This change highlights the common transformations that occur during book-to-screen adaptations. While the series has captured many memorable moments from Laura Esquivel's novel, this particular instance showcases a creative decision to shift the emotional impact from physical distress to profound sadness.
