Synopsis

Flor, a Mexican immigrant and single mother, accepts a housekeeping job with the affluent Clasky family in Los Angeles. As her daughter Cristina adapts quickly to American life, Flor struggles to protect their cultural identity while navigating the family's emotional turmoil. The household's chef patriarch, John Clasky, becomes increasingly drawn to Flor, intensifying tensions within the family.

Factoids & Trivia

• James L. Brooks developed the story after interviewing Spanish-speaking immigrant women and their bilingual daughters with the help of Latina magazine founder Christy Haubegger.

• Brooks cast Adam Sandler after seeing his more dramatic work in "Punch-Drunk Love," using the film to move him away from his familiar broad-comedy roles.

• Paz Vega did not speak English when filming began. An interpreter was present on set to help her communicate during production.

• Cloris Leachman took over the role of Evelyn after Anne Bancroft left the production because of illness.

• Cinematographer John Seale reportedly shot more than two million feet of film, making it his largest amount of footage for a production at that time.

• The kitchen scenes used actual students from the nearby Le Cordon Bleu cooking school in Pasadena.

• The production became known for Brooks' unusually prolonged and exacting process. Some sets were dismantled and rebuilt, while certain scenes were filmed repeatedly before he was satisfied.

• Released in December 2004, the film earned roughly $55 million worldwide against an estimated $80 million production budget.