A sub continental “Upstairs/Downstairs” from Dipil and Deepa Mehta, this comically delicious exploration of class, ethnicity, and gender premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and has been winning rave reviews ever since.  Guileless Canadian diplomats in Dehli are unknowing foils for their wily household cook in this hilarious and touching satirical caper.

Country of Origin:  India
Director: Dilip Mehta   
Cast: Don McKellar, Seema Biswas, Lisa Ray, Vansh Bhardwaj, Shriya Saran   
104 min   
Language: English and Hindi with English subtitles
Opening Night Selection:  Indian Film Festival of Los Angeles (IFFLA)
Premier: Toronto International Film Festival

This comically delicious exploration of class, ethnicity, and gender premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and has been winning rave reviews ever since.  Brother/sister team Dilip Mehta (The Forgotten Woman) and Deepa Mehta (Water, Earth, and Fire) have written and instant satirical classic in Cooking with Stella.

When Canadian diplomat couple Michael (Don McKellar) and Maya (Lisa Ray) relocates to Dehli, they inherit an army of servants. The most intriguing and talented of these is Stella, (Seema Biswas) the charming, if unassuming, household cook who has outlasted many diplomats in the well-appointed Canadian compound. Traditional household roles are upended when Stella learns that it is Michael, not Maya that will be home with the children. At first, Stella is uncomfortable with the breach of protocol when Michael, a former chef, makes himself too cozy in her kitchen. However, Stella soon warms to his flattery when he asks her to teach him the art of South Indian cooking.

Soon, we learn that there is more to Stella than meets the eye.  As Stella continues with her plotting right under the noses of the stereotypically nice Canadian couple, a morally upright new nanny, Tannu, (Shriya Saran) arrives from the country. Yet, intrigue awaits even the guileless Tannu. Heroic Anthony (Vansh Bhardwaj) arrives on the scene just in time to stir her heart.

There is more than meets the eye in Dilip Mehta’s social satire as well. In Cooking with Stella, Mehta examines both the servers and the served with equal parts sympathy and critique. The luxurious diplomatic haven is contrasted with the real life of the street markets outside the compound’s walls.  This comedy of manners culminates in Stella cooking up her wiliest scheme yet and Cooking with Stella concludes in an ending both satisfying and poignant.