Jennifer Grausman, the director/producer of the award-winning documentary “Pressure Cooker,” will conduct a question and answer session with the audience following the 8 p.m. Little Cinema screenings of her film on Friday, July 3, Sunday, July 5, and at the 2 p.m. matinee on Monday, July 6.
The film is a humorous and inspiring true story about a hard-driving Philadelphia high school culinary arts teacher, Wilma Stephenson, and three seniors in her culinary boot-camp program. Ms. Stephenson’s students are from poor backgrounds and through her culinary arts class are being given the opportunity to compete for hefty scholarships from the Careers through Culinary Arts Program. Cooking and the results are secondary to the challenge Stephenson gives her students: to succeed and to achieve what no one else thought they could.
“Pressure Cooker” was awarded a special commendation at the 2008 Los Angeles Film Festival and received a 2nd place award for best documentary feature at the Nashville Film Festival in 2009. Critics have lauded the film as “A heart-grabbing, awe-inspiring work that needs no embellishment,” Stephen Rea, The Philadelphia Inquirer; and “Stephenson looms largest as a reminder of what the right teacher can mean to a kid looking for a way out; it takes a strong woman and a special grace to not only let her protégés go, year after year, but practically shove them out the door,” Michelle Orange, Village Voice.
Ms. Grausman’s film credits include “Maine Story” (2007), “Dear Lemon Lima “(2007), “The Killing Floor” (2007), “L.I.R.R.” (2006), “Future Imperfect” (2005), “Solidarity” (2005), “Clean” (2005), “Live at Five” (2005), “No Shoulder” (2005) and “The Tollbooth” (2004). “Pressure Cooker” marks her directorial debut. She is currently in post-production on the film “Three Backyards.”
“Pressure Cooker “(2008, NR, 99 minutes) will be shown nightly at the Berkshire Museum’s Little Cinema at 8 p.m. from July 3 – 9, with a 2 p.m. matinee on Monday, July 6. Tickets are $8 ($6 for members). This year Berkshire Museum is offering a selection of refreshments for purchase at the Little Cinema, including coffee, tea, and snacks prepared by Dottie’s Coffee Lounge in Pittsfield.
