Oscilloscope Laboratories Selects May 6 As The Release Date For Both DVD And Blu-ray Editions Of Documentary Filmmaker Matt Mahurin's I Like Killing Flies

Oscilloscope Laboratories has selected May 6 as the street date for both DVD and Blu-ray editions of documentary filmmaker Matt Mahurin’s I Like Killing Flies: 20th Anniversary Edition.

Although it is billed as a documentary, Mahurin’s film is more like a stand-up comedy presentation with Greenwich Village restaurateur Kenny Shopsin taking center stage in his “custom” kitchen — think: Terry Gilliam and his film Brazil or anything else that springs to mind that screams disorder with a purpose.   That’s his kitchen … that’s his domain.

Mahurin, both a filmmaker and a regular customer at Shopsin’s, hit upon the idea of documenting the final year of the eating establishment at its original location before making the move to its new digs (forced out by gentrification in the village).   Moving a restaurant doesn’t sound like much, but with Kenny Shopsin in his workplace (the kitchen) Mahurin’s I Like Killing Flies takes on a life of its own.

In addition to Shopsin’s way of speaking (holding court and often profound), there is the menu — some 900 separate items (often with weirdly inappropriate names), all prepared by Shopsin — and the rules for dining at Shopsin’s.   Yes, rules, no party greater than four, no exceptions … and done of that party of two joining a party of three or four stuff to get around the Kenny Shopin’s rules of dining!!

The film opened at Sundance in 2004, worked the festival circuit for two full years before having a limited theatrical run in the summer of 2006.   Released on DVD in September of 2007, I Like Killing Flies has long-since been out of print.   This will also be the Blu-ray debut on May 6.

Bonus features include the short film titled Cooking with Kenny.