For Grace

Curtis Duffy, one of the country's most renowned chefs, is building his dream restaurant at the worst time of his personal life. Already the recipient of two coveted stars from the international Michelin dining guide, Duffy has ambitions for his Chicago restaurant Grace to become the best in the country. But his laser focus at his cooking career cost Duffy his marriage and two young daughters. 'For Grace' is the revealing feature-length documentary by Chicago filmmakers Kevin Pang and Mark Helenowski. The film follows the building of Grace from concrete box to its opening night, showing as few films have before the exacting standards required in luxury dining. It's a story about food, sacrifice and the nearly impossible task of achieving work-family balance in the restaurant industry. It also revisits Duffy's turbulent childhood: How a middle school home economics teacher named Ruth Snider recognized cooking talent in a troubled teenager, how the tragic circumstances of his parents' death caused Duffy to seek refuge in the kitchen, and how cooking ultimately exacted a price. Mostly, 'For Grace' is about relationships. After his parents' death, Duffy's home economics teacher Ruth Snider took on the role of his surrogate mother. On the opening night of Grace, Duffy's sister, brother, wife and daughters aren't there to celebrate. But one person was there, and it was the woman who turned Curtis' life around -- Ruth Snider.