AN ALBUQUERUQUE LATIN AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL SPECIAL!  THANKS TO THE OPENING ACT SPONSORS UMB BANK, THE UNM-LATIN AMERICAN  AND IBERIAN INSTITUTE  AS WELL AS SUPPORTING SPONSOR ROB DONNELLY!

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.

“A searing black and white slice of nightmare, is a monumental work of righteous anger." - RogerEbert.com

"There’s a surging life force felt in every scene of Alonso Ruizpalacios’ superbly acted La Cocina — at times ebullient but more often on edge, if not careening dangerously toward disaster or violence.” - The Hollywood Reporter

“This black-and-white indie confection (garnished with sparing touches of color) mixes biting social critique with stylistic bravura.” - Variety