I get that the idea was not to make a documentary about barbecue recipes, but to show how the traditions and cultures sort of intertwine with this *kind of universal* ritual that is barbecuing. I do feel the barbecues themselves were left aside, more often or not, in order to focus on the social issues, so I would argue the film lost a bit of focus. My biggest issue with the documentary, however, is that it seems to not understand what it is actually about. They counted as barbecue that hot plate grilled meat they do over in Australia, and the shawarma, from the middle-east. Both of which, as far as I ever heard, are universally not considered barbecue (mostly because they don't use coal). And as if that wasn't enough, they ignored the south brazilian barbecue, which is, to my knowledge, the most ritualized in the world. So, a documentary about barbecue that doesn't really display barbecues.

Barbecue was extremely well-received in its world premiere at SXSW in, (where else would you premiere a BBQ movie?), but in Austin, Texas. It was beautiful filmed as the film makers ate their way around the planet to explore the BBQ traditions on 6 continents in Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Japan, Mongolia, Jordan (among Syrian refugees), Armenia, Sweden, South Africa, Texas, Mexico and Uruguay. While each was unique in its cultural traditions and rituals for flame-cooking meet, there was something deeply primordial about the idea of humans cooking meeting. The specific methods of preparation differed from country-to-country, but the core experience was shared and universal. The experience is a communal one that brings together families and friends the world over. The process seemed to be one that binds communities together.

Barbecue is beautiful filmed so that you can almost smell the meet cooking over the flame and almost taste it. In a world where human beings often seem so deeply divided, BBQ is a tradition that unifies people. I honestly don't understand vegetarians who choose to reject this essential element of human existence. I hope that folks get to enjoy this luscious charming documentary about one of world's best culinary experiences.