The Drama By Alonso Ruizpalacios Premiered Worldwide On February 16
It was a regular Friday lunchtime rush at The Grill, a New York tourist trap that serves thousands of customers, when money went missing from the till. The workers, most of them illegal immigrants, are being questioned.
One of the cooks trying to defend his job is Pedro, played by Raúl Briones Carmona. The young Mexican is a dreamer and a troublemaker, but he is also in love with Julia, an American waitress portrayed by Rooney Mara, who doesn’t see herself in a relationship with an undocumented alien. People from different cultures have to live together despite their differences in the chaos of the kitchen.
France (Originals Factory), Australia and New Zealand (Vendetta), Spain (Avalon), Italy (Teodora Film), Benelux (Cherry Pickers), Switzerland (Filmcoopi), Scandinavia (Mis. Label), Poland (Monolith), Romania (Bad Unicorn), Baltics (Acme), Czech Republic (Film Europe), South Korea (The Coup Inc.), Japan (Sundae), Taiwan (Filmware International), China (HiShow), Greece (TFG), the Middle East (Front Row), Israel (Forum Film), Singapore (Shaw), Ukraine (Arthouse Traffic), Indonesia (Falcon Pictures) and Ships and Airlines (Cinesky, Germany and austria (Square One Entertainment)
La Cocina premiered worldwide at the Berlin Film Festival on February 16. So far, it has received positive reviews. So positive in fact that the film has been acquired by distributors from all over the world. Variety reports that a U.K. and Ireland deal is very close to being finalized.
Alonso Ruizpalacios, the award-winning Mexican director behind Güeros, directs from a screenplay he wrote based on the on the 1957 stage play The Kitchen by Arnold Wesker. The original work simply told the story of a kitchen staff. Wesker’s first and most performed play was already adapted in 1961, but this time, Ruizpalacios takes the opportunity to bring the idea of a kitchen staff to the present. He touches on social issues like racism, xenophobia, immigration and multiculturalism.
The premiere was also the opportunity for actress Rooney Mara to return to the spotlight. It marked the actress’ first public appearance in months. It’s also Mara‘s first role since Sarah Polley‘s Women Talking (2022). This year, she will also appear in Polaris by Lynne Ramsay and The Island by Pawel Pawlikowski, whose release dates have not yet been announced.
CREDITS: Malena Cortizo A.
