Education
Celebrating Cross-Cultural Stories
Celebrating Cross-Cultural Stories focuses on themes of self-discovery and perseverance, centred on cultural identity through the sports-comedy Breakaway.
It includes access to the film, a 75-minute conversation with filmmaker Vinay Virmani and actress Noureen DeWulf, a lesson plan, and support resources.
The accompanying lesson plan explores identity, diversity and culture.
This national conversation, recorded on April 19, 2023, is still relevant, powerful, and interactive for students watching today.
Learn more about the film and special guest speakers below.
This Resource Is:
- Free of charge
- Interactive with student polls, discussion boards and more
- Suitable for Grades 9-12
- Presented in English, with a French-subtitled version available
About the Film
Breakaway
Rajveer Singh (Vinay Virmani) is struggling to balance the wishes of his traditional Sikh family and his own true passion for hockey. Raj and his friends play only for fun, held back by the prejudice and mockery of other teams as their turban-clad crew steps onto the ice. Enter Coach Dan Winters (Rob Lowe) and soon the Speedy Singhs are competing in a real tournament, while Raj is falling in love with the coach’s beautiful sister, Melissa (Camilla Belle).
A cross-cultural story of self-discovery, Breakaway is a heartwarming, action-filled comedy, bringing a dash of Bollywood to Canada’s favourite sport. With a hilarious supporting cast including comedian Russell Peters, and a special appearance from Drake, Breakaway will leave you cheering for its unlikely heroes.
About the Guests
Please note: Guest biographies reflect their roles and achievements at the time of recording.
Vinay Virmani
Star, Co-writer and Producer of Breakaway
Born in Brampton, ON, Virmani is an actor, writer, and producer whose work focuses on BIPOC stories, representation, and sport. He has produced over a dozen films, including Anything is Possible: The Serge Ibaka Story, Black Ice, Superfan: The Nav Bhatia Story, and Dr. Cabbie, which he also starred in. Virmani has served as a panellist on CBC’s Canada Reads and is the partner and chief content officer at UNINTERRUPTED Canada.
Noureen DeWulf
Plays the role of Reena in Breakaway
DeWulf is a prolific actress and comedian with a 20-year career working in film and television. She is best known for her starring roles in the Academy-award winning short film West Bank Story, as well as Ghosts of Girlfriends Past with Matthew McConaughey, The Back-up Plan with Jennifer Lopez, and the hit TV series Anger Management. DeWulf recently recurred on Good Girls, and you can currently see her in the comedy Wheels of Fortune on Netflix.
ORDER Now
If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact us