LA COCINA

FOUR STARS Chaos runs rampant in the kitchen of a New York restaurant.

DRAMA US Spanish & English #LACOCINA Starring Raúl Briones, Rooney Mara

Directed with considerable nerve by relative newcomer Alonso Ruizpalacios, LA COCINA is a frenetic exploration of the chaos, camaraderie, and class tensions simmering beneath the surface of a busy New York restaurant kitchen. Think of it as a cipher for modern America with all its inequity, anger, aggression and aspiration. Inspired by Arnold Wesker’s 1957 play, here is an immersive experience that doesn’t shy from any of its increasingly uncomfortable themes. Hold your nose and don’t expect to come away unscathed.

Shot in monochrome with an occasional emotional highlight of colour, Ruizpalacios masterfully captures the dizzying pace and volatility of his pressure-cooked microcosm; occasionally funny, frequently distressing, never shy as it serves up meal after salty meal of poignant social commentary. The cast, led by Rooney Mara and Raúl Briones, delivers compelling performances, particularly Briones, whose portrayal of Pedro—a Mexican line cook caught in the grind of the American dream—anchors the film even as his character becomes less and less grounded.

The camera work by Carlos Correa effortlessly propels us around the confines of single-location, dancing through the kitchen’s narrow corridors and steamy workstations, adding urgency and rhythm to the storytelling. The blending of English and Spanish dialogue further enhances the film’s authenticity and reflects the cultural collision central to its themes.

What truly sets LA COCINA apart is its audacious style. Ruizpalacios isn't afraid to bend genre or narrative conventions, occasionally breaking the fourth wall or shifting tonal gears with confidence. These creative risks pay off more often than not, even as the film’s structure becomes more and more overwhelming or disorienting. Although the characters fly completely off the rails in the film’s final act with a finale reminiscent of TRIANGLE OF SADNESS at its most overheated scenes, it rewards your patience during the apparently repetitive and meandering middle.

While LA COCINA may not serve a perfectly neat narrative, it’s a rich dish that thrives on imperfection. Amid the harrowing uproar is a richly layered, sensory experience that is both entertaining and insightful. At once intimate and operatic, LA COCINA is, on one hand, a sour report card on The American Dream while on the other is a testament to those whose own dreams and struggles keep a country running. The price is nothing if not challenging.

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