Capsule reviews for Oct. 30

The Donut King

While it lacks broader depth and sociopolitical context, this documentary portrait of famed Los Angeles pastry entrepreneur Ted Ngoy is appropriately sweet and fulfilling. It chronicles the rise and fall of the Cambodian immigrant who escaped political turmoil in his homeland before becoming a successful purveyor of donuts and influential philanthropist among South Asians. But this is more than just a rags-to-riches tribute to the American Dream, as rookie director Alice Gu dedicates equal time to Ngoy’s shocking personal and professional financial tumble. Even if visual gimmicks threaten to derail the film’s focus, Ngoy himself makes a captivating subject. The result is a timely cinematic treat. (Not rated, 94 minutes).

Higher Love

Is it worth helping someone who doesn’t want to be helped? This documentary makes that question relevant as it provides a vivid and heartbreaking portrait of opioid abuse and how it tears apart families. Specifically, director Hasan Oswald follows two junkies from run-down Camden, N.J., who are caught in a hopeless cycle of poverty and addiction. One of them is a young mother whose longtime boyfriend is frustrated and on the brink of giving up. Viewers will share his anguish, for better and worse, as the gritty film admirably tackles its subject with minimal sympathy or judgment. The result is compelling yet appropriately infuriating. (Not rated, 78 minutes).

The True Adventures of Wolfboy

Despite tackling some familiar coming-of-age themes, this tender and compassionate drama is a slight but empowering glimpse into self-esteem and social acceptance. The title character’s name is Paul (Jaeden Martell), an excessively hirsute teenager subject to bullying. His father (Chris Messina) strives for normalcy, but Paul wants to discover his roots, so he embarks on a solo journey to find his estranged mother, encountering a freak-show carnie (John Turturro) and bonding with a fellow outcast (Sophie Giannamore) along the way. The film’s forces some mythological connections to Paul’s story, and his affliction is never sufficiently explained, but Martell’s understated portrayal is poignant and emotionally grounded. (Rated PG-13, 88 minutes).