© 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,' August 10-12

Josh Ethan Johnson
/
A24
Rapidly approaching high school, 13-year-old Kayla, played by Elsie Fisher, suffers the slings and arrows of contemporary suburban adolescence in "Eighth Grade."

With the Kansas City Royals languishing and the Chiefs off to a disappointing preseason start, sports fans looking for respite (and not willing make the drive to see Sporting KC contend for the Western Conference) might consider a trip to their favorite cinema. Up To Date's Film Critics have offered up a selection of movies for your weekend consideration. What they lack in home runs and touchdowns, they more than make up for in heart.

Cynthia Haines

"The Cakemaker," not rated

  • When the affair ends between a married Israeli man and his German paramour, a baker named Thomas, the jilted lover travels to Jerusalem and infiltrates the cafe of his beau's wife.

"Three Identical Strangers," PG-13

  • A documentary of powerful reporting, with shocking revelations about identical triplets, separated at birth, who reunited as adults only to discover the ominous inner-machinations of their adoption agency.

"Love, Cecil," not rated

  • An engaging portrait of Cecil Beaton, photographer and costume designer, who was renowned for his iconic portraits of celebrities and was awarded two Academy Awards for design and direction work on "Gigi" and "My Fair Lady." (Showing at Tivoli Cinemas at 11 a.m., August 11)

Steve Walker

"The Cakemaker," not rated

  • After the abrupt end of an affair between Oren, a bisexual Israeli businessman, husband, and father, and Thomas, a gay baker in Berlin, the latter moves to Jerusalem where he befriends Oren's wife and starts working in her cafe.

"Eighth Grade," R

  • This bruising but ultimately endearing look at an awkward teenage girl's last week of eighth grade, written and directed by Bo Burnham, is both an indictment of the cruel intentions of social media and a tribute to adolescent resilience.

"Three Identical Strangers," PG-13

  • This tragic and ironic documentary about triplets separated at birth celebrates their stranger-than-fiction reunion at age 19, then uncovers the nefarious agenda of the adoption agency that placed them.
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.
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 luke@kcur.org.