Spinning Plates (Joseph Levy,2012);USA

Review by Linda Mccomb    Viewed at the Lobero Theater

Spinning Plates is a documentary that follows three very different restaurants, the people who own them and the problems and triumphs that they encounter. The three stories are tied into each other and aim to teach the audience about family values and pursuing your dreams.

The first story we follow is that of the owner of what is considered to be the seventh best restaurant in the world. This is the kind of restaurant that takes pride in taste as well as appearance and considers their presentations to be art in food form.  The story not only follows the struggles the restaurant has but also touches on how the owner is struggling with a life threatening disease. The second restaurant is a 150-year-old restaurant that serves traditional food to their community. It is owned and run by a family who explains to the viewers a little about the tragic history of the restaurant and how they depend on the community to help them run it. The last story the film follows is that of a Mexican restaurant that is driven by a couple. They serve traditional Mexican food and they only use family recipes. The film covers their struggle to keep the business afloat while also taking care of their daughter.

This film is more than a film about the hospitality industry and business. It goes deeper into the aspect of the people behind the counter and their lives outside of their business. I think this film demonstrates beautifully how a family can come together and overcome obstacles together as well as be successful.