With one too many serious things in my news feed this week, I had very little palate for an Oscar nominated documentary about violence, race relations or mortgage fraud. That path of elimination led me to stream Knife Skills, a delicious little doc that follows the hectic launch of a sophisticated French restaurant in Cleveland—one that will be staffed entirely by ex-convicts with little to no formal culinary training.
Dozens of unseasoned cooks. 25 dishes. 6 weeks. If that sounds like a Food Network reality show, it's not. If it sounds like an inspirational story, it is. Knife Skills received an Oscar nomination for 2018 Best Documentary Short.
Viewers will come to know three inmates intimately, as well as the restaurant's founder, Brandon Chrostowski, an ex-con himself. Chrostowski was facing five to ten years when a judge granted him leniency and a one-year sentence of probation instead. He chose to educate himself in the culinary arts and reach a place in his life where he could pay it forward with a restaurant that would give others a second chance.
Skills is a compelling, inspirational and human story about how people who don't fit in can make the best of a second chance. It's a treat to know about the genesis of this special place.
The story reminded and encouraged me to support a somewhat similar concept — downtown Dallas' Cafe Momentum. — Chad Houser's New American restaurant that doubles as a nonprofit helping at-risk youths learn culinary skills. Check that out too.
Dozens of unseasoned cooks. 25 dishes. 6 weeks. If that sounds like a Food Network reality show, it's not. If it sounds like an inspirational story, it is. Knife Skills received an Oscar nomination for 2018 Best Documentary Short.
Viewers will come to know three inmates intimately, as well as the restaurant's founder, Brandon Chrostowski, an ex-con himself. Chrostowski was facing five to ten years when a judge granted him leniency and a one-year sentence of probation instead. He chose to educate himself in the culinary arts and reach a place in his life where he could pay it forward with a restaurant that would give others a second chance.
Skills is a compelling, inspirational and human story about how people who don't fit in can make the best of a second chance. It's a treat to know about the genesis of this special place.
The story reminded and encouraged me to support a somewhat similar concept — downtown Dallas' Cafe Momentum. — Chad Houser's New American restaurant that doubles as a nonprofit helping at-risk youths learn culinary skills. Check that out too.
Grab something delicious to eat and stream this 40-minute course on humanity. You can find it on iTunes for $2.99, or watch it for free here: https://thescene.com/watch/thenewyorker/academy-award-nominee-knife-skills
In a nutshell: Inspiring and forkin' refreshing.
Award potential: Filmmaker Thomas Lennon earned his fourth nomination for Knife Skills, which also won the audience award at the Traverse City Film Festival. His other Oscar nominated films include The Warriors of Qiugang, The Battle Over Citizen Kane and winner The Blood of Yingzhou District. Serving up the lightest subject matter of the bunch, Knife Skills won't win him another Oscar this year, but there's always another chance.
The ten buck review: Worth ten bucks.
In a nutshell: Inspiring and forkin' refreshing.
Award potential: Filmmaker Thomas Lennon earned his fourth nomination for Knife Skills, which also won the audience award at the Traverse City Film Festival. His other Oscar nominated films include The Warriors of Qiugang, The Battle Over Citizen Kane and winner The Blood of Yingzhou District. Serving up the lightest subject matter of the bunch, Knife Skills won't win him another Oscar this year, but there's always another chance.
The ten buck review: Worth ten bucks.
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