Zoe Saldaa’s new limited series From Scratch, which debuted at this weekend’s Martha’s Vineyard African American Film Festival (MVAAFF), was shown to guests by Netflix . In addition to the episode, it was disclosed that the show’s platform premiere is scheduled for late October. The plot revolves around a couple from diverse origins who fall in love and rapidly adopt each other as family after meeting in Italy. Netflix premieres all eight episodes of From Scratch on October 21.
Additionally, Netflix used the occasion to share more information about the new show, including the From Scratch poster. With Saldaa’s character Amahle and her on-screen boyfriend Lino (Eugenio Mastrandrea) appearing to be profoundly in love in the rearview mirror of a Vezpa, Sicily is used as a landscape in the artwork to depict a lighthearted romance. The movie From Scratch is based on Tembi Locke’s autobiography of the same name. To turn the novel into a series, the author collaborated with her sister Attica Locke.
The official synopsis of the series is as follows: “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. 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.“
The limited series’ premiere and season finale were written by the brother-and-sister pair of screenwriters, while the next six episodes were written by Amy Wang, JJ Braider, Marguerite MacIntire, Joshua Allen, and Jason Coffey. Nzingha Stewart (Inventing Anna) and Dennie Gordon are the show’s directors.
Along with Saldaa and Mastrandrea, From Scratch also stars Keith David (Greenleaf), Kellita Smith (Z Nation), Judith Scott (Dear White People), Lucia Sardo (Alone With Her Dreams), Paride Benassai (Baara), and Roberta Rigano. Danielle Deadwyler (Station Eleven), Keith David (Greenleaf), Judith Scott (Dear White People), Lucia Sardo (I Know This Much is True).