Mexican director Alonso Ruizpalacios masterfully brings to life the hustle and bustle of a New York kitchen while exposing the harsh reality faced by migrant workers.

The Grill is a busy Times Square diner that serves thousands of diners on an ordinary Friday. The kitchen staff alternates between dreams and despair, as each tries to chase the elusive American dream. When money goes missing from the cash register one day, suspicion falls on Pedro (Raúl Briones), a young Mexican chef. Pedro is involved in a stormy relationship with Julia (Rooney Mara), an American waitress struggling with her own obligations.

When he learns that Julia is considering an abortion, Pedro's world collapses. The shocking revelations and the constant stress of work bring him to a boiling point, completely throwing the tight choreography in the kitchen into disarray. La Cocina is an exciting social-realistic drama and a tribute to the invisible heroes of the kitchen. Starring Rooney Mara and Raúl Briones. La Cocina is based on Arnold Wesker's 1957 play The Kitchen and had its world premiere last spring at the Berlin Film Festival, where it was warmly received by the international press.