1/2
UK | Germany 2020
Opening September 10, 2020
Directed by: Eliza Schroeder
Writing credits: Jake Brunger
Principal actors: Celia Imrie, Shannon Tarbet, Shelley Conn, Rupert Penry-Jones, Bill Paterson
True to its title, Love Sarah – Liebe Ist Die Wichtigste Zutat is about love being the most important ingredient. When life throws people a curveball, sometimes that brings people back together; this cute comedic drama deals with generational frictions, prioritizing, and give-and-take cooperation. Three women, linked by their love for Sarah (Candice Brown), decide after a series of coincidences to make Sarah’s dream come true. The practicality is a lease that needs feeding, even though Isabella (Shelley Conn) is not the Michelin-starred baker her best friend and soul mate Sarah was. Whereas, Mimi (Celia Imrie) and her daughter shared one trait—stubbornness, which caused a rift they were unable to rectify. Yet Clarissa (Shannon Tarbet), 19-year old daughter of Sarah and granddaughter of Mimi, straddles the frictional divide with a balletic movement that finds purpose. Matthew’s (Rupert Penry-Jones) timing—he shares history with the bakers—to appear on the scene could not be better, and his delicacies melt objections away. In the course of realizing her daughter’s dream, the nimble Mimi and the inventive Felix (Bill Paterson) discover mutual interest.
Directed by Eliza Schroeder, with Jake Brunger’s screenplay, there are no surprises other than some of editors Jim Hampton and Laura Morrod’s caramelized sequencing. Imrie, Tarbet and Conn admirably portray strong, complementary likeable female characters, just as Penry-Jones adds flavor and Paterson firm footing. Additionally, Aaron Reid’s cinematography, and Enis Rotthoff’s music measure up, as does chef Yotam Ottolenghi’s delectable food shown. Love Sarah is a feel-good film as sweet as the confectionaries shown with little to mull over, except maybe where to get a feuilletée, croissant, baklava, or kringle later. 98 minutes ()