The performances of both Ms Diaz and Ms Collette could not be bettered, despite matched contrivances that require Maggie to conquer dyslexia by learning bad poetry and Rose to give up her stressful career for love and marriage.
Her inspiration was Laura Esquivel's "Like Water for Chocolate, " the story of a Mexican girl who expresses her love through cooking, including one meal made with rose petals.
On the plus side, the incidence of marriage rose. (Ms Asgeirsdottir herself wed her long-term partner: for love, she stresses.) Icelanders worked fewer hours.