La Cocina

“This film features superb performances all around…The man who carries it all is Briones, injecting infinite unpredictable energy into Pedro, who never knows when to stop but seems to enjoy the chance to always keep going.” – Film Experience

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 (Briones), a passionate dreamer entangled in a tumultuous love affair with Julia (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.

Directed by acclaimed Mexican director Alonso Ruizpalacios (Berlinale Winning GUEROS, MUSEO starring Gael Garcia Bernal, Netflix’s A COP MOVIE), starring two-time Oscar nominee Rooney Mara and Raúl Briones, and premiering in Berlinale earlier this year followed by Tribeca and London Film Festival, LA COCINA is a stunning film and high-stakes drama.