Netflix’s miniseriesFrom Scratchis one of the most emotional and poignant series the streaming giant has produced. The story follows Amy, an American art student (Zoe Saldaña), who falls in love with Sicilian chef Lino (Eugenio Mastrandrea), while living in Italy.From Scratchresonated with Netflix viewersworldwide and became an instant hit.While the love story drew audiences in, it was the show’s exploration of the couple’s hardships that made it special. After Lino is diagnosed with cancer, the couple struggles with his health issues, navigates the culture clash between their judgmental families, and eventually adopts a child.
Many viewers were surprised to learn that the limited series is based on a true story. Series creators and real-life sisters Tembi and Attica Locke drew inspiration from Tembi’s memoir,From Scratch: A Memoir of Love, Sicily, and Finding Home.Whilesome details of their lives were altered for the series, the show remains faithful to the emotional and heart-wrenching true story.
Tembi Locke Made Some Changes To Her Real Life Story WhIle Adapting From Scratch For Netflix
The Creator Wanted To Give Some Distance Between The Series And True Story
It’s incredibly rare for writers to have the chance to adapt their own memoirs for the screen, butTembi and Attica Locke dida magnificent job staying true to the real story while also making some changes in order to make the series its own unique creation. Tembi, an actress by trade (not an artist like in the series) who has appeared inNever Have I Ever,Eureka, andDumb and Dumber To, collaborated with her sister Attica, a television writer known for her work onLittle Fires Everywhereand Ava DuVernay’sWhen They See Us.
25 Best Netflix Miniseries Ranked
Netflix has put out some tremendous miniseries in recent years from emotional dramas to trippy sci-fi shows to true stories and these are the best.
One of the most notable changes the sisters made was altering the characters' names. In an interview withToday, Tembi explained that the writers changed the names to create “psychic distance” between the real-life figures and their fictional characters.Since the story was so personal, she wanted the characters to have the freedom to act differently than their real-life counterparts. Changing the names allowed for this creative flexibility, and each name was chosen for meaningful reasons. Tembi even let her daughter Zoela come up with her own character’s name for the show. She settled on Idalia.
In the series, the Attica character is named Zora, and she is portrayed by Danielle Deadwyler.While Attica is Tembi’s younger sister in real life, Zora is depicted as the older sisterfor narrative purposes. Attica noted that her character has a very different personality and is the most different from her real self. The writers needed a reason for Zora to already be in Italy, so they made it so that she was already living there.
Other changes include creating additional tension between Amy and Lino’s family. The series also condenses certain aspects of the memoir, including the timeline of Lino’s treatments and Amy’s return to Sicily after Lino’s death, where she bonds with his family. While these events unfold over a longer period in the memoir,the adjustments work well in the series and help streamline the story and add depth, making it resonate powerfully on screen.
Creating Like Scratch For Netflix Was A Beautiful Experience For Tembi Locke
Adapting Her Memoir Allowed Her To Heal And Help Others With Grief
Recreating your own tragic love story for millions to see is unfathomable for most, but Tembi Locke embraced the challenge. CreatingFrom Scratchfor Netflix alongside her sister was an emotional yet incredibly rewarding experience. Seeing her story resonate with so many viewers and earn critical acclaim was deeply meaningful, particularly as myriad people reached out to share how the series helped them process their own grief. Speaking withToday, Tembi shared how fulfilling it was to connect with audiences on such a personal level.
“I can’t imagine having it been done any other way. The best thing I could offer was to be the guardian of the essence of the story. I knew we could change things. But if the storyline had to go left, then it still had to follow the emotional heartbeat of reality.”
One of the most touching aspects of the experience for Tembi was feeling her late husband’s presence during the filming process. Cast members, coincidentally, had unknown connections to Saro Gullo (Tembi’s real-life husband), having met him before his passing. Some of the filming locations also happened to be near where the real-life events occurred, even without Tembi mentioning it to producers. Additionally,one cast member called her “Attachina,” a term of endearment her husband had used for her.
“That is a nickname Saro called me. I had not heard that in 10 years. I said, ‘Why did you just say that?’ And she said, ‘I don’t know. It just came to me, it felt like he was right here.”
The only momentsTembicouldn’t bring herself to watch were the scenes where Amy and Lino fall in love, as she didn’t want them to distort her real memories. She said,
“I didn’t watch the visuals because I want to maintain and protect my own memories. Suddenly you start to remember the thing that was made, and you forget the original images.”
Zoe Saldaña And Reese Witherspoon Also Loved The Experience Of Making From Scratch
The Project Came Together After A Dinner Between The Actress And Producer
Forlead actress Zoe Saldaña,From Scratchoffered an opportunity to take on a grounded, heartfelt role after starring in major blockbuster franchises likeAvatarandGuardians of the Galaxy. After a casual dinner with Reese Witherspoon, Witherspoon mentioned Tembi’s memoir and suggested it would be a perfect fit for Saldaña. Zoeinstantly connected with the story and joined the project enthusiastically. In aninterview withToday, Saldaña shared how much she related to the project, especially its themes of love and loss.
“I lost my dad, so I remember grief from my 9-year-old self and looking up at my mother, I saw how difficult it was for her. So the book really kind of opened that scope of what it’s like to lose a partner. I know what it’s like to lose a dad, but not what it’s like to lose your partner.”
Witherspoon also felt a strong connection to the memoir. Her production company, Hello Sunshine, is known for adapting impactful books written by women, and Tembi’s memoir was a selection for Reese’s Book Club. Witherspoon brought the project to Netflix, recognizing the platform’s global reach. Speaking withVariety, Witherspoon explained how deeply Tembi’s story resonated with her and why she believed it deserved to be shared worldwide.
“We haven’t seen a modern romance that’s a true story like this in quite some time, so it’s really beautiful to see Zoe Saldaña — who actually has married an Italian man and speaks Italian on film — to watch that love story happen and know that it is so deeply personal to her.”
Tembi Locke Is Hard At Work On Her Next Project And Continues To Share Her Experience OnFrom Scratch
The Sisters Are Collaborating On A New Show With Universal Television
Since the release ofFrom Scratch, Tembi Lockehas continued sharing her journey and offering insights into handling loss and finding healing. She frequently participates in interviews and public speaking engagements, emphasizing the importance of compassion and creating spaces for recovery. In July 2024,Tembiannounced via Instagram that she would be teaching a writing workshop to help others share their personal stories.
Tembi is also continuing her creative collaboration with her sister Attica, who served asFrom Scratch’s showrunner . The pair signed an overall deal with Universal Television and are currently adapting Attica’s novel,Bluebird, Bluebird, about a Black Texas Ranger.
