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“The Kitchen,” the drama starring Rooney Mara that recently debuted in competition at the Berlinale, has been acquired for most international territories.
HanWay Films has closed sales for France (Originals Factory), Australia and New Zealand (Vendetta), Spain (Avalon), Italy (Teodora Film), Benelux (Cherry Pickers), Switzerland (Filmcoopi), Scandinavia (Mis. Label), Poland . (Monolith), Romania (Bad Unicorn), Baltics (Acme), Czech Republic (Film Europe), South Korea (The Coup Inc.), Japan (Sundae), Taiwan (Filmware International), China (HisHow), Greece (TFG), Middle East (Front Row), Israel (Forum Film), Singapore (Shaw), Ukraine (Arthouse Traffic), Indonesia (Falcon Pictures) and Ships and Airlines (Cinesky). Before the Berlin Film Festival began, a key deal with Germany and Austria was closed with Square One Entertainment.
Variety understands that a deal between the UK and Ireland is very close to being finalised, while Fifth Season, which co-financed the film, is jointly representing the North American sale with WME.
The fourth feature film by one of Mexico’s most interesting and award-winning directors, Alonso Ruizpalacios (“Güeros”, “A Police Movie”), “La Cocina” was one of the most notable films in Berlin. Starring double Oscar nominee Mara and Mexican talent Raúl Briones (“A Cop Movie,” “Asfixia”), the film was described by Variety in its review as “a thrilling spiritual adaptation of Arnold Wesker’s 1957 play ‘The Kitchen,’ transposed from mid-century London to modern-day New York.”
“The Kitchen” takes place during the lunch rush at The Grill in Manhattan, where money is missing from the till. All undocumented cooks are being investigated and Pedro (Briones) is the main suspect. He is a dreamer and a troublemaker, and is in love with Julia (Mara), an American waitress who can’t commit to a relationship. Rashid, the owner of The Grill, has promised to help Pedro with his paperwork so he can “be legal.” But a shocking revelation about Julia forces Pedro to get involved in an act that will stop the production line of one of the city’s busiest kitchens once and for all.
“La Cocina” was written and directed by Ruizpalacios, based on the work of Wesker and produced by Ramiro Ruiz, Gerardo Gatica, Lauren Mann and Ivan Orlic. The project is a co-production of Filmadora, along with associated production companies Panorama, Fifth Season, Astrakan Film AB and Seine Pictures.