Next month the Tribeca Film Festival kicks off with Time is Illmatic, a documentary about Nas and the beginning of his career. Also joining this year's excellent documentary lineup are two subjects near and dear to New Yorker's hearts: hot dogs and Chinese food.
First up, a look at the most iconic of NYC dogs in Famous Nathan, which looks at the nearly 100-year-old Coney Island institution Nathan's Famous. Filmmaker Lloyd Handwerker—grandson to Nathan and Ida Handwerker, who began the business in 1916—weaves together old family movies and photographs, interviews with longtime employees and a rare interview with Nathan himself to paint a picture of how one frankfurter took over the world.
The documentary makes its world premiere at the TFF.
On nearly every menu at Chinese restaurants across the country you'll find a version of the sticky, sweet, fried poultry known as General Tso's chicken. The Search For General Tso chronicles the history of the ubiquitous dish and seeks to find out just who was that chicken-loving general. Red Farm maestro Ed Schoenfeld serves as one talking head on the journey, which visits both China and America in its search for answers.
The Tribeca Film Festival runs from April 16 through April 27.
