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!!
Bonus features include the short film titled Cooking with Kenny.
