I’ve been hearing some good things about Pressure Cooker, a recently released documentary about a well-known culinary arts teacher at an inner city high school in Philadelphia. I’m not quite sure you can call Wilma Stephenson the female Gordon Ramsay, but she certainly has a no-nonsense approach to cooking and criticism, and she pushes her students to do the very best they can. There are scholarships on the line, and the opportunity for students to make a better life for themselves and their families.

The movie seems like it will share some similarities with Hoop Dreams and a number of other basketball documentaries, but also Mad Hot Ballroom in that it is an unlikely activity providing inspiration some of these inner city kids. With any luck, it could be both hilarious and uplifting, which is always a good combination… plus there is a competition element to the story as well. Pressure Cooker is currently playing in select theatres; check out the trailer below. (Thanks to Falsk for the heads up!)