'From Scratch': It's flavorful, fresh and overall 'molto bene'!
By Vidal D’Costa
'From Scratch' feels like a warm bowl of happiness (be warned though, there will be a whole lot of grief too) that's prepared with care, served with just the right amount of wholesomeness and peppered with a winning combo of sincerity as well as plenty of humorous, yet spot-on jabs at the American way of life and the processed food industry alike.
The limited series which is an adaptation of 'From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily and Finding Home' by Tembi Locke (whose sister Attica also acts as the series showrunner) revolves around the tumultuous but simultaneously beautiful and riveting journey of the lead pair- Lino who is a humble and ambitious chef from Sicily harbouring grand dreams of opening his own restaurant and his supportive wife Amy, a born and raised Texan who is in the early stages of finding the inner artist within, while still learning the ropes at a local art gallery. The show follows the couple as they navigate life as young newlyweds while also pursuing their respective passions and ambitions, all from scratch. It also delves into Lino and Amy's respective socio-cultural backgrounds as they are both treated as 'outsiders' even in their own countries/communities.
From Scratch Makes It Work
What works for 'From Scratch' is that the writers clearly seem to have done the needful research since the show respectfully steers clear of the cliched or even offensive ethnic stereotypes that are otherwise difficult to dodge in similar big budget multicultural projects due to lazy writing or due to lack of proper research and which more often than not also rear their ugly heads in mainstream media. Instead the show is a layered and heartfelt effort that directly addresses the issues faced by the interracial couple at its centre- be it Lino's 'inferior' Southern Italian roots often making him a laughing stock or the target of ingrained classism and prejudices from his fellow countrymen hailing from the Northern region, or his choice of marrying Amy, a woman who is both American and Black causing a divisive atmosphere at home among his white European parents. The show's treatment of said subject matter(s) also never feels try-hard nor melodramatic and the focus on providing an in-depth, diverse and multicultural perspective of the sociopolitical or socio-cultural issues that the characters face also help it in standing out. Also, watching Lino's parents deal with the rift between them and their son in an unorthodox and petty fashion (such as a scene wherein Lino's mother denies her stubborn husband pasta sauce for lunch as punishment after an argument) provides light-hearted moments of instant comic relief, thus balancing out the seriousness of the subject matter too.
The Perfect Ingredients
Zoe Saldaña (who is also credited as an executive producer with Reese Witherspoon) and Eugenio Mastrandrea are both extremely convincing as the lead pair and the actors also exude an endearing and effortless chemistry that could easily charm one's socks off! The supporting cast too deliver formidable performances. The cinematography by Brian Pearson and Patrick Murguia is another bonus, and the close-ups of the fine Italian cuisine, fresh market produce, etc as well as the mesmerizing visuals of the Florentine locales are enough to satisfy one's cravings.
Taking It Back
Another highlight of the show is the keen attention to detail to certain props. Since the timeline is set in the early 2000s, it also features ample dollops of nostalgia pertaining to that particular 'bygone era'. For instance, Amy busting out the trusty Yashica camera to record the couple's trip to Lino's hometown will definitely jog every noughties kid's memories. Finally, it is also garnished with a mouth-watering soundtrack consisting of a surplus of Italian tracks that will tempt one to diversify their Spotify playlist.
Final Thoughts
The show does occasionally suffer from slightly choppy editing in the first few episodes and also some continuity slip-ups but despite these minor flaws , 'From Scratch' holds fort due to its many juicy positives, and also comes highly recommended especially if you're looking for some hearty, feel-good fare that is fresh, flavorful and of course, as they say in Italy- 'molto bene'! (very good). Relish it before it runs out!