A warm bite of roti in Toronto’s Parkdale amidst mounds of snow is
one step towards finding a taste of home, but neither taste nor home are
easily defined or traced. In this mouth-watering documentary, the
origins of dal puri, or roti as it is known locally, leads
Toronto-based filmmaker Richard Fung across oceans from his native
Trinidad to the Indian Subcontinent to explore the interwoven histories
of peoples and palates.
In his quest for the original dal puri, Fung interviews
restaurateurs, foodies, scholars and locally renowned chefs in South
Asia and the Caribbean. We catch tantalizing glimpses of flour-caked
hands expertly rolling, kneading and stuffing the flatbread in its
multiple succulent variations. From the dal puri of Bihar to
the Trinidadian specialty named after its resemblance to a “busted-up
shirt,” every name for roti reveals a different history.
For centuries, dal puri has been shared, altered and
blended, mirroring the mélange of regional customs and dialects that
thrive throughout South Asia and have been transplanted across the
Atlantic. “The rivers flow and we have not been able to stem the flow of
the rivers. There is no divide in terms of palate.” says Pushpesh Pant,
an Indian food historian. Uncovering histories of colonialism, trade
and immigration, Dal Puri Diaspora is a fascinating survey of
regional specialties and cultural specificities. From sidewalk eateries
and spice factories to home kitchens, Fung explores the mutability of
borders when identity is considered through cuisine and the deliciously
complex world of roti.
Time: 4:30p
Location: The Royal: 608 College St @ Clinton
Followed by the Rum and Roti Lime @ Monarch Festival Hub, 12 Clinton Street, Toronto, ON - 6pm
SPECIAL EVENT | SAT NOV 10, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
THE MONARCH FESTIVAL HUB (12 CLINTON ST) | BUY TICKETS
Admission: $30 (includes film tickets) – ADVANCE SALES ONLY. NO TICKETS SOLD AT THE DOOR.
Visit: http://www.reelasian.com for more info
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