What's Cooking?

This was shown at Thanksgiving to our 55+ residents. It's a feel good movie and enjoyed by folks of all ethnic groups. Very suitable at the times when families get together to prove that, despite diversity, many of us experience the same day-to-day situations.

This wonderful movie by Gurinder Chadha, the British-Indian director of "Bend It Like Beckham," tells the story of 4 Los Angeles families and their take on Thanksgiving celebrations. These African-American, Latino, Jewish, and Vietnamese families seem very different but their stories are connected by their relationships and hardships with eachother and their identity as Americans. Chadha also weaves in many controversial issues such as lesbianism, interracial romance, gun violence, multiculturalism and assimilation against a visual feast of traditional and ethnic foods.This film, like all Chadha's films, is a masterpiece. She has the ability to address very controversial and complicated issues while maintaining an up-beat pace. Her films are also visually stunning with beautiful and authentic cultural elements. Chadha really understands and respects diverse cultures. I highly reccommend her first film "Bhaji on the Beach" and keep a look out for the up-comming film "The Mistress of Spices" directed by Chadha's husband based on the book by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. This will star the Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai who is in Chadha's film "Bride and Prejudice," another great film to see!

We purchased this movie a long time ago and still watch it nearly every year before Thanksgiving. It's serious, funny, thought-provoking and human, without being a caricature. I have found that it inspires valuable, (calm!) conversations about cultural differences, racial assumptions, interpersonal relationships, and consequences of choices made by normal people in familiar situations. Viewers may enjoy discovering how much certain everyday items have changed--the video store, the cell phones---but how many things remain the same, like misunderstood teens, holiday-based tensions among family members, hidden reasons for attitudes and behaviors. It's also fun to catch familiar actors in unexpected roles!

Interesting assemblage of many fine actors in this old film. This all takes place around the Thanksgiving table. There are four families who live in the same neighborhood. All the families have secrets to hide.In one family, the assistant to the mayor has his secret, his son has his secret, and the rest of the family are coping. The next family is Vietnamese and has three children. All have issues, but the family does not talk about them. The next family is very large and dealing with a father who left them while he was having an affair. He wants to move back in. The last family has a grown daughter who is gay. Her lover comes home with her, but the mother and father do not talk about it.During the Thanksgiving meal, everything comes out, and the family must cope. Interesting times.Recommended. prisrob 01-22-17

There are indie films,and then there are stay-with-you always amazing indie films. The cast is only the icing to a tale weaved so subtly the ending would blow you away (well, not to give it away).Like the culinary theme, which also left me hungry, this is one film which will whet your appetite for the acutely accurate portrayal of the immigrant society in America. I know as an Asian I was stunned by the director's resounding voice in her unflinching representation of that community. And the range of emotions it will evoke will leave you laughing, crying, thinking...just from one scene to another. I also appreciate the really uncheesy, un-gratituous lesbian story-line (but of course a lady director would know better!)So it's a keeper. Buy it so you can share it with people you love and so you can watch it again.

I was so happy to find this movie on Prime because I enjoyed it the first time I saw it several years ago. Thanksgiving being celebrated bin the homes of different ethnic families that showcased the problems, opinions and biases that play out in homes all across America. What really stood out was although this movie was made over 15 years ago the fact that some of the same things they talked about are being said today and that neighbors really don't interact with each other the way we did years ago.

Saw this movie about 17 years ago. Loved it. Could never figure out the title of the movie. It was on tv a few nights ago but missed most of it But I got that title.

Never worked

Livraison conforme aux attentes et le film est excellent

Thanksgiving in Los Angeles. Vier Familien unterschiedlicher Ethnien (Jüdisch, Vietnamesisch, Latino und African-American) feiern das Familienfest traditionell mit Truthahn und jeweils herkunftsspezifischen Beilagen. Trotz aller Unterschiede gleichen sich die Generationskonflikte in allen Familien: Ein bei der Tochter gefundenes Kondom sorgt bei der einen Familie für Aufregung, ein Sohn lädt den geschiedenen Vater ein ohne dies mit der Mutter abzustimmen, eine alte Tante fragt die lesbische Nichte aus.Alles kommt ohne Klischees aus. Verwunderlich, das der Film nie in europäische Kinos gekommen ist - bei der Multi-Kulti Debatte müsste er dringend gezeigt werden.Bitte von dem hässlichen Cover nicht abschrecken lassen. Übrigens: What's cooking? bedeutet Was ist los?

Even though its a Region 1 USA import, it plays fine on my computer. I Love anything by Gurinder Chadna.

Great movie