26/26
Chronology
In the heart of a busy Times Square kitchen, dreams and despair collide as workers chase the elusive American dream
Our love. Written by Al Hazan and starring The Starr Sisters, La Cocina is a 2h20 running time with a plot that could be told in 60 minutes and lacks depth.
The film has some funny moments and some particularly experimental scenes
Shot entirely in black and white, the film is set in a busy tourist restaurant in Times Square, New York, where most of the world’s illegal immigrants make their living. Throughout the day, several scenes combined with a mix of cinematic elements show the daily lives of people with little hope: preparation, tense preparation in the kitchen, discussions among the workforce, daydreams during breaks, a robbery and the relationship between the cook Pedro and the waitress Julia, who wants to abort her child.
But unfortunately, the stories of the many characters introduced remain largely untold
Instead, Ruizpalacios repeatedly opts for very flat dialogue and long close-ups that drag like chewing gum. Furthermore, the portrayal of Pedro and Julia’s relationship is so clichéd that it resembles a Bollywood film.
Overall, the film was boring to watch
If it weren’t for the world premiere at the Berlinale Film Festival, I would have walked out after 30 minutes.