An intimate drama about the "family next door," Cooking Lessons-A Palestinian American Story turns a personal lens on the complex legacy of the Palestinian diaspora. This feature documentary tells the story of Elias and Josephine Hakim, who were among the first Palestinian refugees granted immigrant visas to America in the 1950s. They arrived in New York City harbor with $12 in their pockets, raised five children and lived the American dream of assimilation and upward mobility. But as their eldest son--the film's narrator Najib Joe--reveals, the Hakims never told their children they were Palestinian and spoke only English to them. Featuring 80 years of family photographs and 8 mm home movies, as well as cinema verité, interviews, mementos and recipes, Cooking Lessons captures the lost world of the Palestinian past and its enduring emotional power in the present. Through the very human dilemmas of one not-so-ordinary ordinary Palestinian-American family, Cooking Lessons celebrates an immigrant community whose contributions to America have yet to be recognized. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT: lauriecoyle@sbcglobal.net	Producer/Director Laurie Coyle Co-Producer/ Narrator Najib Joe Hakim Project Status In production Format DVCam/Digibeta 16x9 Languages English and Arabic Rights All Rights Available
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