"La Cocina" doesn’t feel obligated to deliver a moral lesson, and it's clear Alonso Ruizpalacios recognized this. He has produced a noteworthy film about everyday life that raises the bar for its kind by condensing time—managing to show everything that takes place in a restaurant kitchen within 139 minutes. That accomplishment is reason enough to see it. What’s truly special about the movie is how well it portrays…

Those familiar with “Boiling Point” from 2021 will likely understand what this drama is aiming for, since it's set in a busy New York restaurant kitchen. To diners, "The Grill" might seem calm, but behind the scenes, the kitchen is a mix of cooks, waitresses, and cleaners who speak different languages and have very distinct personalities. They work under Chef Lee Sellars and manager Luis, played by Eduardo Olmos, a c…