What's Cooking?
2000, 109 minutes, Rated M
A warm and humorous film about tradition and transformation in ethnically diverse Los Angeles, What's Cooking? celebrates cultural difference and universal human bonds.
Four families - the Nguyens, the Williams, the Avilas and the Seeligs - make preparations for Thanksgiving, but behind the cheerful facade that the day engenders, emotions run high as social, familial and generational conventions collide.
Recent migrants from Vietnam, The Nguyen family's (Trinh Nguyen played by Joan Chen: Twin Peaks) hope of embracing the all-American celebration of food and family conversely
heightens the clash of generations when Jimmy, their oldest son, can't make it due to so-called academic commitments and their daughter Jenny shows signs of disrespect.
The Seeligs are uneasy with their daughter Rachel's (Kyra Sedgwick: The Closer) lesbian relationship and try to keep it from the rest of the family by introducing her partner Carla (Julianna Margulies: ER) as her roommate.
Anthony Avila invites his recently estranged father to join the family dinner in the hope that he and his mother (Mercedes Ruehl: The Fisher King) will rekindle their love, even though his
mother has other plans.
As the affluent Williams family (Audrey Williams played by Alfre Woodard, Desperate Housewives) puts on an elegant spread for their guests, little-by-little their world starts to come undone.
Critics praised English director Gurinder Chadha (Bhaji On The Beach, Bend it Like Beckham, Bride and Prejudice) for capturing Los Angeles' diversity. What's Cooking? brings to life the tragi-comic quirks and complexities of family, accomplishing an engaging mix of depth, frankness and humour.
- Director:
- Gurinder Chadha [4],
- Starring:
- Kyra Sedgwick [32], Alfre Woodard [24], Julianna Margulies [94], Joan Chen [20], Mercedes Ruehl [10],
- Screen Formats:
- Full Frame 1.33:1
- Subtitles:
- English
- Language and Sound:
- English 5.1 Dolby Digital
Spanish 5.1 Dolby Digital
Vietnamese Dolby Digital Stereo
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