Film Screening:

Today's Special
(David Kaplan, 2009, 99 min, USA, English, Color, 35mm)

In this super-feel-good foodie comedy, young Manhattan chef Samir (Aasif Mandvi from The Daily Show) rediscovers his heritage and his passion for life through the enchanting art of cooking Indian food. Today's Special tells the story of Samir, who dreams of becoming the head chef at an upscale Manhattan restaurant. When his father Hakim has a heart attack, Samir is forced to take over Tandoori Palace, the nearly bankrupt family restaurant in Jackson Heights. Samir's relationship with his parents and his heritage is put to the test as he is forced to forsake his dreams and desperately tries to master Indian cooking to salvage the family business.

-- Part of the Muslim Film Series: Negotiating Cultures and Identities.

Cost: Free and open to the public.

Sponsors: The Duke Islamic Studies Center, the Duke University Middle East Studies Center, the Franklin Humanities Institute, the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, and the Program in the Arts of the Moving Image (AMI)