Warmer weather in Kansas City means it's time to start prepping some small-talk fodder for this spring's weekend barbecues. That means it's time to head to the movies! Up To Date's indie, documentary, and foreign Film Critics have picked out their favorites for you, and we're betting they'll inspire lots of grill-side chats.
Cynthia Haines
"Itzhak," not rated
- In this documentary, Alison Chernick chronicles the life of famous violinist Itzhak Perlman. Viewers get an intimate look into Perlman's life and how his struggle with polio impacted the beginning of his career.
"Back to Burgundy," not rated
- Following the death of their father, three siblings reunite at his vineyard. They must grapple with the future of the family business while re-establishing their connections to each other.
"Foxtrot," R
- This award-winning Israeli film tells the tale of a family dealing with tensions and grief at home while a son does his military duty, stationed at a desolate post on the border.
Steve Walker
"Back to Burgundy," not rated
- In this lush French film, sure to make viewers thirsty, the adult children of a successful vineyard owner debate whether to downsize in light of steep inheritance taxes or go all in after their father's death.
"Itzhak," not rated
- A documentary about world-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman and his journey from childhood polio in Tel Aviv to his current status as an in-demand concert star and, at home, a convivial, witty husband and host.
"Foxtrot," R
- Named best foreign film for 2017 by the National Board of Review, this inventive, quirky, and at times harrowing Israeli film tells of a soldier monitoring a mostly uneventful border crossing while his parents squabble back home.
