In a period where science fiction often depicts futures that are dystopian, sarcastically technologically advanced, and emotionally lifeless, The Kitchen (2023) stands out with its emotion-driven beauty while still being part of the genre. This British dystopian drama, directed by Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya, places focus on a near-future London struggling with gentrification, systemic displacement, and ever-increasing inequality. The film marks Kaluuya’s directorial debut and highlights the compassion, rich visual storytelling, and social critique he brings to what is usually a spectacle-driven genre.
Synopsis
The Kitchen takes place in a grim iteration of London set in 2040, with the absence of social housing as well as social infrastructure available to the public. Government officials alongside private developers have exiled lower class citizens further away from the urban city center. In the midst of all this aggressive displacement, there does exist a final stronghold of working-class resistant—a self-sustained marginalized estate referred to simply as “The Kitchen.”
The makeshift neighborhood serves those who choose not to migrate. Although The Kitchen takes pride in its culture, community, and stubborn identity, it also faces crippling poverty. The residents, in an attempt to fight the system, band together.
The film revolves around Izi, portrayed by Kane Robinson (also known in the UK music scene as rapper Kano), a lonely man employed by a unique funeral business “Life After Life.” The company transforms the dead into trees meant to be both memorials and a literal act in a world overly obsessed with superficial technological advancement and insincere environmental protection and greenwashing.
Izi is emotionally distant, attempting to escape The Kitchen which is full of chaos and turmoil. His world is turned upside down when he meets Jedaiah Bannerman’s Benji, a 12-year-old boy who moved to The Kitchen after his mother passed away. It turns out that Izi’s former girlfriend, or at least someone who was once very close to him, was Benji’s mother. Benji, being a boy, is left vulnerable while Izi struggles with the possibility that he might actually be Benji’s father.
With time as Izi and Benji spend together, the former starts to change his perception of the world around him. At the same time, The Kitchen community is under siege by law enforcement and city officials hell-bent on eliminating The Kitchen. Internal conflict heightens within the estate as some factions fight for peaceful preservation while others decide to shift toward aggressive action and defiance.
The film reflects the fatherhood, social decay, moral obligation of society, and communities through Izi’s journey.
Cast and Characters
The film balances skillfully on the emotional input of its leads.
Kane Robinson gave a smooth and deep internal performance of Izi, a man between obligation and survival. His performance, which was carried out with intense restraint until the final act, was sustained as his character was revealed.
His multi-layered performance as Benji marks a strong breakout role for Jedaiah Bannerman. His warmth and wonder make him a real and deeply felt character. His relationship with Izi is the emotional spine of the movie.
The supporting cast elevates the narrative presented in The Kitchen with rich performances.
Staples, one of the younger tenants of the estate, is played by Hope Ikpoku Jr. who is struggling to understand what resistance means.
As Ruby, Teija Kabs offers a strong female voice into this otherwise male dominated narrative.
Providing gritty, street-credible realism to the film’s textured ensemble are Cristale, BackRoad Gee and Demmy Ladipo.
Ian Wright, the former footballer and public figure, appears as Lord Kitchener, an elder emblem of pride and authority within the estate. His casting is surprising, given that he remains largely out of the public eye.
Direction and Production
The movie is co-directed by Kibwe Tavares, known for his visually inventive short films, and Daniel Kaluuya, who not only co-directs but also co-writes the screenplay with Joe Murtagh. Kaluuya’s input is deeply personal – he grew up in London and has long advocated for working-class Black British narratives.
In 2022, production commenced, which included filming in London and Paris. The fictional Kitchen estate was positioned in the Damiers complex of La Défense in Paris which represented the dilapidated future London on one level. It contributes to the setting’s architectural brutalist as well as post-gentrification dystopian fusion design characteristic of London.
In particular, Wyatt Garfield’s cinematography merits attention. The Kitchen’s beauty and decay are paired with skillful textured capturing, such as cracked concrete, neon lights, overgrown nature, and the sterile outside world.
The film’s major theme of contradicting coexistence of technology and traditions is complemented flawlessly by Labrinth and Baranowski’s music score, oscillating electronic minimalism and soulful motifs, and of haunting and melancholic nature.
Thematic Insights and Critical Reflection
The Kitchen touches on a speculative future, but at the same time is a reflection of contemporary issues. It is centered on the following notions:
- Housing and Displacement
The Kitchen primarily critiques the state of the housing crisis in metropolitan regions throughout the world. The film paints a picture of a future where social housing is exterminated entirely, resulting in the wealthy remaining in the city while the impoverished are exiled.
- Fatherhood and Emotional Responsibility
Izi’s relationship with Benji serves to both humanize and deepen the societal tale. The development of Izi’s character into a caring father figure demonstrates the significant healing effect relationships can have, even in the most unforgiving places.
- Community vs. Individualism
The Kitchen depicts disproportionate collective action—real and imagined—against the systems that attempt to obliterate the oppressed. Izi’s personal dilemma of pursuing safety and succumbing to the welfare of his people is representative of the moral quandaries suffered by those pushed to society’s fringes.
- The Commodification of Death
What the film calls the “Life After Life” enterprise, where the dead become guardians of a tree, is an attack on fake concern for nature and death’s capitalist exploitation. It accentuates the extent to which contemporary society’s commodification captures even the most hallowed parts of existence.
Critique Evaluation
“The Kitchen” has received a rather positive reception for its vision, performances, and socio-political relevance soon after its premiere viewing at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2023. While some reviewers remarked that the plot suffers from overused tropes of dystopian fiction, the majority commended the execution along with its profound emotional undertones.
The Kitchen arguably has quite a high viewer approval rating which can be attributed to the film’s authenticity, strong performances, and social commentary of class, race, and belonging. The so-called “romantic” dynamics between Robinson and Bannerman were praised as well as the production design of The Kitchen.
Final Thoughts
Claimed to be an “urgent” piece of film, ‘The Kitchen’ serves to strengthen the science fiction genre of film by incorporating real world issues. The film, containing Applying standout performances from the actors with impressive visuals, serves as an astounding debut for Daniel Kaluuya and Kibwe Tavares alongside a message that far surpasses the borders of fiction.
Holding more meaning than simply a dystopian premise, The Kitchen is a cinematic tribute to a community’s identity and the violence they face in a struggle to erase them. In order to make such critical statements, the film needs to be analyzed beyond just entertainment.
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