Directed by Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya, "The Kitchen" is a thought-provoking British science fiction drama set in a dystopian future London. Starring Kane Robinson, Jedaiah Bannerman, Hope Ikpoku Jr, Teija Kabs, Demmy Ladipo, Cristale, and BackRoad Gee, the film premiered at the 67th BFI London Film Festival on October 15, 2023, before hitting select cinemas in the United Kingdom on January 12, 2024. It later made its streaming debut on Netflix on January 19, 2024.
Premise: In a dystopian future where all social housing has been eradicated, Izi (Kane Robinson) and Benji (Jedaiah Bannerman) fight to survive as residents of the Kitchen, a resilient community unwilling to abandon their home. As they navigate this harsh reality, the film explores the challenges and determination of those facing a world transformed by societal decay.
Cast:
- Kane Robinson as Izi
- Jedaiah Bannerman as Benji
- Hope Ikpoku Jr as Staples
- Teija Kabs as Ruby
- Demmy Ladipo as Jase
- Cristale as Lianne
- BackRoad Gee as Kamale
- Rasaq Kukoyi as Arinze
- Reuben 'Trizzy' Nyamah as Dirty
- Henry Lawfull as Cronik
- Alan Asaad as Oozie
- Ian Wright as Lord Kitchener
Production: "The Kitchen" marks the feature-length directorial debut of both Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya. The film's development started in 2014, sparked by a conversation in a barbershop, and it was selected for Sundance's Screenwriting and Directing Lab in 2016. Filming took place from March to June 2022, entirely on location, with the Kitchen market shot at the old London Electricity Board Building on Cambridge Heath Road and the Kitchen neighborhood captured at the Damiers complex in La Défense, Paris.
Release: The film premiered as the closing feature at the 67th BFI London Film Festival on October 15, 2023, followed by a theatrical release in select UK cinemas on January 12, 2024. Netflix users worldwide had the opportunity to stream "The Kitchen" starting January 19, 2024.
Reception: "The Kitchen" has garnered positive reviews, earning an 87% approval from 54 critics on Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 6.6/10. The consensus on the website hails it as "smart sci-fi solidly grounded in social commentary." Metacritic assigned a score of 67 out of 100, indicating generally favorable reviews. Wendy Ide of The Guardian praises the film's rich world-building, while Debiparna Chakraborty of Far Out applauds its unapologetic exploration of societal decay, serving as a stark reminder of real-world challenges faced by the exploited and oppressed.