San Diego Asian Film Festival 2008

Amir, 29, is a heartbreaker. Literally. As a relationship termination specialist, providing dumping services for disgruntled daters, Amir spends his days delivering bad news to unsuspecting lovers across Los Angeles. Though Amir claims he is just the messenger, the job has made him hard-hearted and as a result, he is the last bachelor in his group of friends. When Amir returns to his family’s Bay Area home for Thanksgiving, he is reunited with Zara, his charming and beautiful cousin from Britain who he has not seen in twenty years. The two cousins do not get along right away. As the days go by, Zara grows sympathetic towards Amir’s sad state of perpetual bachelorhood and decides to help him by being his partner in crime. Over time, Amir starts to soften from Zara’s influence and perhaps even begins to develop, god forbid... feelings? An undercurrent of sexual tension develops between them as the charade comes dangerously close to going too far. Will his friends find out the truth? Will Amir fall for his own cousin?! Or will he become one of his own victims?”

Written and directed by Amyn Kaderali, best know for his popular viral short film Call Center (2005), Kissing Cousins bursts with razor sharp wit and smartly written dialog. The sexual tension between the cousins is unnervingly palpable, creating many wacky moments of hilarity. Memorable cameos by David Alan Grier (In Living Color) as Amir’s fellow bachelor buddy, and Jaleel White (Urkel in Family Matters) as his antagonistic bro-in-law round out the excellent cast.

Co-presented by:
Intuit Indian Organization
San Diego Indian American Society