La Cocina

La Cocina is a bustling Times Square diner, serving thousands of diners on an average Friday. In the kitchen, dreams and despair alternate as each team member tries their best to chase the elusive American dream. Life in this hectic environment is intense and demanding, with the constant pressure to deliver perfection. When money goes missing from the cash register one day, suspicion falls on Pedro (Raúl Briones), a young Mexican chef. Pedro is in the midst of a stormy relationship with Julia (Rooney Mara), an American waitress who is trying to balance her own commitments. When Pedro learns that Julia is considering an abortion, his world collapses. These shocking revelations, combined with the constant stress of their work environment, lead to an explosion of emotions. The stress and revelations bring Pedro to a boiling point, completely throwing the carefully constructed choreography in the kitchen into disarray. La Cocina is not only an exciting social-realistic drama, but also a tribute to the unseen heroes who keep the kitchen running. Mexican director Alonso Ruizpalacios masterfully brings to life the hustle and bustle of a New York kitchen, while simultaneously exposing the harsh reality that migrant workers face on a daily basis. The film, starring strong leads for Rooney Mara and Raúl Briones, is based on Arnold Wesker's 1957 play The Kitchen. Last spring, La Cocina had its world premiere at the Berlin Film Festival, where it was warmly received by the international press.