In the heart of a bustling Times Square kitchen, dreams and desperation collide as the back-of-house staff each chase the elusive American dream. When money goes missing from the till, the spotlight falls on Pedro (Raúl Briones), a passionate dreamer entangled in a tumultuous love affair with Julia (Rooney Mara), a waitress grappling with her own commitments. As tensions rise and shocking revelations unfold, the relentless pace of the kitchen threatens to shatter the hopes and aspirations of those who keep it running. It’s a high-stakes drama that explores the intersection of the personal ambition and systemic exploitation of undocumented immigrant workers within the pressure-cooker environment of a Times Square New York restaurant.
“There’s a surging life force felt in every scene of Alonso Ruizpalacios’ superbly acted LA COCINA…. Think “The Bear” on cocaine with a Red Bull chaser and you get some idea of the sustained intensity and simmering pressure of this bruising tragicomedy about what the diners (mostly) don’t see during a working day in a busy Times Square restaurant.” —David Rooney, Hollywood Reporter “A chaotic symphony of nearly two dozen characters, this black-and-white indie confection (garnished with sparing touches of color) mixes biting social critique with stylistic bravura…. LA COCINA confronts the craziness head-on as this industrial kitchen starts to feel like the galley of one of those Roman slave ships from BEN-HUR. If the United States is a melting pot, this is the furnace.” —Peter Debruge, Variety “A deeply cinematic film, from the choice of black-and-white to the many camera tricks used to enhance tension through controlled chaos. As people fly back and forth during the lunch rush, the film feels nearly out of control, but, of course, it's all very carefully choreographed.” —Brian Tallerico, rogerebert.com
