Movie poster for ‘The Lunchbox.’ Courtesy/rottentomatoes.com

Review by KELLY DOLEJSI

Everyone knows the way to a man’s heart is through his lunch. So what happens if an unintended male eats an especially potent midday curry? “The Lunchbox” (2013, rated PG) explores the possible consequences of just such a life-changing mix-up.

“The Lunchbox” screens at 6:30 p.m., Thursday at Mesa Public Library as part of its Free Film Series.

The film begins with a most unlikely occurrence: Despite Mumbai’s nearly flawless lunchbox-delivery service, wherein restaurants and wives can pack hot meals to be dropped off at workers’ desks at lunchtime, a mistake is made. Somehow, the wonderful food Ila (Nimrat Kaur) prepares for her loathsome husband starts landing in the stomach of a stranger.

Meanwhile, the stranger, Saajan (Irrfan Khan) is set to retire at the end of the month after a 35-year career in accounting. He is not eager to train his replacement (played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui). He is not, it seems, happy about anything ─ except for the magical, delicious entrees that accidentally end up beside his ledger.

Ila and Saajan are connected by a bureaucratic error, but as Ila says, sometimes “the wrong train can lead you to the right station.”

Director Ritesh Batra’s film received top awards at film festivals around the world, including the Grand Golden Rail at Cannes and Best Screenplay at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival. All counted, it has been nominated for 60 awards and won 25.

As with all screenings in the Free Film Series, admission to this week’s Mumbai romance is free, thanks to the Friends of Los Alamos County Libraries.

June 4, the Free Film Series will present “About Time,” a 2013 British romantic comedy by writer of “Love Actually” (Richard Curtis) about a man who uses his time-traveling talents to get a girlfriend.

For more information, call the library at 505.662.8240 or check online at http://www.losalamosnm.us/library/Pages/default.aspx under “Upcoming Events.”