Mistress of spices is a film about a lady who is trained in the use of spices and how they are applicable to each and every person with regards to their special needs and circumstances.
At the beginning of the film, we see Aishwarya Rai as Tilo, the timid and shy mistress of spice. A man by the name of Harum comes to ask for certain spices to help him in securing a good job and take away the pain of a very painful past. She asks him to rub some powder and while narrating the story of how it happened, he totally forgets everything. He thanks her and gets a little astrology advice from her in the bargain.
Aishwarya Rai /Tilo, is trained in the doctrines of spices from a young age from Zohra Seghal ( First Mother ) who advises her pupils about certain rules they have to follow in order for the spices to provide them the healing touch. If they break them, then the spices will curse them.
In this movie, we see Tilo, always talking to herself as she tries to analyse each individual’s situation and prescribes the right herb and spice for them. But everything starts going downhill as she falls in love with a man who is a complete stranger and is brought into the shop for some medication after an accident. Dylan McDermott stars as Doug, the young man who falls for Tilo. As the days pass on and her visits by Doug increase, she realizes that her powers are also diminishing.
I think I’ve told you more than enough. This movie is not that long and if you don’t have patience for it then you will be bored very soon. It’s almost close to a silent movie. Tilo does nothing but walk around her little shop talking to her spices while she has constant flashbacks of her training with First Mother.
Please watch the movie if you are interested in Aishwarya Rai only. I, for once wanted to see Aishwarya Rai’s foray into the Hollywood movie circuit. It’s a total East meets West movie.
Cheers,
Sheldon