© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Up To Date

Up To Date's Indie, Foreign & Doc Critics' 'Three to See,' April 28-30

Protagonist Pictures

What better way to spend a dreary weekend than taking in a few good movies at your local independent theater? If you have a hard time making up your mind, let Up To Date's indie, foreign and documentary film critics help out with their latest recommendations. They'll ensure your hair stays dry, but maybe not your eyes.

Steve Walker

Graduation, R

  • A doctor in an economically dying Romanian town is intent on ensuring his daughter aces her pre-college exams and, to that end, makes a series of morally bankrupt trade-offs.

The Transfiguration, Not rated

  • An orphaned, friendless African-American teenage boy living in a housing project in Queens is obsessed with vampires — perhaps because he desperately wants to be one.

Their Finest, R

  • A lovely movie about movies. Director Lone Scherfig (An Education) focuses on the crew making a 1940 British war movie about Dunkirk, including a female co-writer (Gemma Arterton), an egomaniacal actor (Bill Nighy) and a bleached blonde American soldier who can’t act.

Bob Butler

After the Storm, Not rated

  • A summer typhoon gives a formerly-successful author, now languishing private investigator, an unexpected opportunity to re-examine his life, and reconnect with his ex-wife and son.

Cézanne et Moi, R

  • Painter Paul Cézanne and writer Emile Zola have been friends for years but, as their friendship progresses, the tension between them mounts as Cézanne strives to attain the level of fame Zola achieves.

Get Out, R

  • Jordan Peele writes and directs an incredibly witty and troubling film centered on a black man meeting his white girlfriend's family. It's sure to make viewers question the idea of a post-racial society. 

Cynthia Haines

Graduation, R

  • When an scrupulous Romanian doctor's daughter is assaulted on the eve of her college entrance exam, her entire future is jeopardized. The father is left with only morally reprehensible options to ensure her success.

Cézanne et Moi, R

  • A historical drama focused on the evolving friendship between two French artist. Director and writer Danièle Thompson captures their respect for each other as well as their adult rivalry.

Frantz, PG-13

  • A black and white depiction of a romance that is anything but black and white. Following World War I, a German woman and French man become romantically involved as the couple navigates survivor's guilt, death and a resentful community. 

As culture editor, I oversee KCUR’s coverage of race, culture, the arts, food and sports. I work with reporters to make sure our stories reflect the fullest view of the place we call home, so listeners and readers feel primed to explore the places, projects and people who make up a vibrant Kansas City. Email me at <a href="mailto:luke@kcur.org" target="_blank" link-data="{&quot;cms.site.owner&quot;:{&quot;_ref&quot;:&quot;0000016e-ccea-ddc2-a56e-edfe57dc0000&quot;,&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;ae3387cc-b875-31b7-b82d-63fd8d758c20&quot;},&quot;cms.content.publishDate&quot;:1678386246938,&quot;cms.content.publishUser&quot;:{&quot;_ref&quot;:&quot;00000170-820a-de8d-af78-a70f6b270000&quot;,&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;6aa69ae1-35be-30dc-87e9-410da9e1cdcc&quot;},&quot;cms.content.updateDate&quot;:1678386246938,&quot;cms.content.updateUser&quot;:{&quot;_ref&quot;:&quot;00000170-820a-de8d-af78-a70f6b270000&quot;,&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;6aa69ae1-35be-30dc-87e9-410da9e1cdcc&quot;},&quot;cms.directory.paths&quot;:[],&quot;anchorable.showAnchor&quot;:false,&quot;link&quot;:{&quot;attributes&quot;:[],&quot;cms.directory.paths&quot;:[],&quot;linkText&quot;:&quot;luke@kcur.org&quot;,&quot;target&quot;:&quot;NEW&quot;,&quot;attachSourceUrl&quot;:false,&quot;url&quot;:&quot;mailto:luke@kcur.org&quot;,&quot;_id&quot;:&quot;00000186-c79d-db71-a7b6-dfbd97080001&quot;,&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;ff658216-e70f-39d0-b660-bdfe57a5599a&quot;},&quot;_id&quot;:&quot;00000186-c79d-db71-a7b6-dfbd97080000&quot;,&quot;_type&quot;:&quot;809caec9-30e2-3666-8b71-b32ddbffc288&quot;}">luke@kcur.org</a>.
Since 1998, Steve Walker has contributed stories and interviews about theater, visual arts, and music as an arts reporter at KCUR. He's also one of Up to Date's regular trio of critics who discuss the latest in art, independent and documentary films playing on area screens.