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From Scratch

Say “buongiorno” to Netflix’s newest limited series, From Scratch, based on the acclaimed memoir by Tembi Locke, which follows the journey of Amahle “Amy” Wheeler (played by Zoe Saldaña) as she finds herself and love in Italy (Sicily specifically). This show has all the ingredients for a delicious experience that allows viewers to truly take a getaway from home, just as they did with Liz Gilbert in 2010’s Eat, Pray, Love. Of course, this is all thanks to Locke, who serves as both executive producer of the show and co-creator, along with her producer-writer sister Attica Locke (When They See Us and Little Fires Everywhere); the two also wrote the pilot together. The memoir itself was chosen by Reese Witherspoon for her book club in May 2019, so it’s only fitting that the next step would be a move to the silver screen (Witherspoon is also serving as executive producer and her production company Hello Sunshine is producing this series).

The pilot and four other episodes are directed by Nzingha Stewart, who recently worked on shows including Black Monday, Maid, Inventing Anna, and the films Tall Girl and Tall Girl 2. Three episodes are under the direction of Dennie Gordon, whose credits include shows like AJ and the Queen, Warrior, and Hunters, in addition to the films What a Girl Wants and New York Minute. Vampire Academy producer Margueritte MacIntyre also wrote two of the episodes.

Want to learn more about this new series and discover who’s who in the cast? Read on to find out.

From Scratch Trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBHKSQ4MrJE

The trailer for From Scratch was released by Netflix on September 15, 2022. In it, viewers meet Amy, a study abroad student excited to take in all of Italy, but who, in one slow motion sequence, bumps into a handsome Italian man, Lino, who asks to cook for her. Soon, their love story is off and the series moves between Texas, her home and family, and Italy. Like most television shows involving family, the inner conflict appears to focus on Amy following her dream of being an artist versus her parents’ own ideas of her going to law school. For Lino, he seems to struggle with adapting to American culture, as does Amy with his Italian upbringing.

Despite being nearly two and a half minutes, the trailer teases gorgeous cinematography of Sicily and impressive shots of food. In a behind-the-scenes video on the series, Tembi Locke describes the emphasis on food, saying, “food is really a love language throughout the series and the way we love changes over our lifetime. We wanted the food to evolve and expand and contract and we watch their love story crack open literally when he cooks for her and it is exquisite to watch.” Expect to definitely feel hungry while watching.

From Scratch Plot Synopsis:

…however, also expect to feel extremely sad. Though the trailer does a good job of hiding it, there’s a big, heartbreaking twist at the center of From Scratch, so read the official synopsis with our warning. If you don’t want to know, skip ahead to the part about the cast:

Inspired by the memoir, From Scratch is a cross-cultural love story that follows Amahle “Amy” Wheeler (played by Zoe Saldaña) an American student studying abroad in Italy, as she meets and falls in love with Lino, a Sicilian chef. Their whirlwind romance faces many unforeseen challenges, including their very different cultural backgrounds; true to real life, it is also infused with lightheartedness and moments of humor that exist alongside the more serious ones. But when Lino is faced with unimaginable health challenges and the couple’s future is threatened, the two families come together to create an extended family unlike any they could have imagined, proving that love crosses all borders

From Scratch Cast:

The cast of From Scratch was announced in April of 2021. Saldaña plays Amy and is also executive producer of the series. The rest of the cast include Eugenio Mastrandrea as Lino and Danielle Deadwyler, star of the recently released Till, along with Keith David (Nope, Entergalactic), Kellita Scott (The Bernie Mac Show, This is Us) and Judith Scott (The Little Things), among others.

When Does From Scratch Premiere?

Be sure to have your bene bowl of pasta with your finest bottle of prosecco (or negroni sbagliatto if you want to be fancy) at the ready to watch From Scratch, which premieres October 21 on Netflix. Also be sure to have tissues on hand, as well.