Directed by Kibwe Tavares and Daniel Kaluuya, Netflix’s latest sci-fi film, “The Kitchen,” delves into societal class disparities in a dystopian future set in 2040 London. The story revolves around Izi, a middle-aged man, attempting to escape the chaotic life of ‘the kitchen.’ However, his trajectory takes a turn when he encounters Benji, a young boy, and Izi becomes torn between his aspiration to leave the place and his commitment to communal values.
The stylish film unfolds as a slow-burn drama, centering on themes of economic disparity, societal hierarchies, and the great impact of individual choices on communal well-being. Tavares and Kaluuya showcase their vivid imagination in portraying a real-world scenario of power abuse and highlighting the daily struggles faced by working-class people. “The Kitchen” serves as a thought-provoking exploration of the tensions inherent in societal structures. The director duo skillfully depicts the challenges faced by individuals in a dystopian reality, offering a narrative that invites viewers to reflect on the complex interplay between personal aspirations and communal responsibilities.
The article contains spoilers; reader discretion is advised.
The Kitchen (2024) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
What is the movie ‘The Kitchen’ about?
In the futuristic neighborhood of what used to be part of London, we are introduced to our protagonist, Izi (Kane Robinson). The Kitchen is primarily the only possible housing society left in London, while the rich and privileged still exist, living their lives in luxury. The ghetto-like ‘The Kitchen’ is a place where class differences can be seen outright, with the outset of economic disparity nearing them. The authorities who run the world have restricted social housing places like the Kitchen, with any resident trying to form groups of any sort considered criminals. A scarcity of space for the less privileged has thus set in, with Izi being a part of the last possible social complexes.
The film establishes that this dystopian world has interactive mirrors that bring up notifications about upcoming events. When Izi receives a message, he gets on his bike and drives off. This is where we get introduced to Izi’s workplace – Life After Life, a company that offers a unique funeral service by turning a dead body into manure, which is used for a tree planted in the name of the deceased. This way, the living relatives of the dead person can come and visit the tree to process their loss. Izi’s work involves convincing people to buy the burial service. This day he meets Benji, a small boy at Life After Life for the funeral service of his mother, Toni Clark.
What leads Benji to choose to go to the kitchen?
For some reason, Izi attends the funeral of the woman and also watches Benji while the process of converting her into a small plant takes place. Benji, a smart little boy, had noticed Izi sneaking up on the whole affair. When his shift ends, Benji approaches him and asks him about Toni. Benji, who had been expecting his possible father to show up at his mom’s funeral, assumes that Izi might be it. However, since Izi rejects the idea and tells him that he only knew Toni from a long time ago, it beats the purpose. Upon further talks, Izi agrees to take the little man for a motorcycle ride, but things become sad for Benji when he is left alone in his apartment on what happens to be his birthday. When he unwraps his present from his mother, he discovers that it’s a bicycle, and since Izi had mentioned living in the ‘kitchen,’ he rides towards the next morning.
The film shows Izi and Benji crossing paths with each other again and again, with Benji eventually persuading Izi to allow him to stay at the kitchen. During his stay there, he realizes the unpredictable nature of life at the kitchen, with frequent police raids that descend into chaos. We witness the police assaulting the residents without legal authorization, almost similar to what is happening in the world right now.
Does Izi choose to forgo his single-occupancy apartment after meeting Benji?
The film also introduces us to Staples, a young man who leads a radical group that uses more formidable ways to keep the kitchen going. They would frequently pilfer food and supplies from trucks in the city, and upon noticing Benji’s bike-riding skills, Staples offers his friendship to the boy.
Benji wishes to stay with Izi, but his self-centered and solitude-loving nature doesn’t let him see this as a choice. The film establishes that Izi is focused on ascending the steps of the social hierarchy to escape the chaotic life of the kitchen. He has been saving money to rent out a luxurious single-occupancy apartment. However, when Benji’s desire to be a part of his life comes to the forefront, Izi is taken aback. Nevertheless, for some reason, he is unable to make the transition along with him and abandons Benji. That said, we see Izi contemplating taking the boy by securing a double occupancy apartment. However, he is unable to and thus leaves the boy to fend for himself.
The Kitchen (2024) Movie Ending Explained:
What happens after Lord Kitchener’s demise?
On the day of the decision, a massive raid takes place, and Lord Kitchener – the man who ran radio broadcasts to keep the spirit of the kitchen alive – is killed. When Izi discovers about Lord Kitchener’s death, he is forced to rethink his decision to abandon Benji. Following Lord Kitchener’s demise, Staples and his gang decide to retaliate against the rich, devising a plan of revenge. The group decides to unleash chaos by looting shopping complexes and perpetrating violence on private apartments in the city. Benji, who is accompanying them, is overwhelmed by the sudden burst of violence and decides to break away from the gang and flee to the kitchen.
What prompts Izi to come back to Benji in the Kitchen?
The ending of The Kitchen sees Izi coming back to the community to express remorse for leaving Benji behind. As a gesture of apology, he brings along Toni’s remains from the plant at his workplace, allowing Benji to locate it in a place of his choosing. While the reconciliation between Izi and Benji is in the process, a police raid happens, making them flee. Staples and his team trap the police and decide to retaliate against their past actions.
Is Izi really Benji’s father?
While all of this is going on, Benji once again asks Izi whether he is his father. This time Izi doesn’t dismiss him and silently nods in approval. It is obvious that Izi is Benji’s dad because we had previously seen Benji saying that his mother told him that his father lives in the kitchen and works at Life After Life, making that connection pretty obvious.
Who knocks on the door?
The final sequence of The Kitchen shows a knock on the door of Izi’s flat in the kitchen. He instructs Benji not to open the door or be concerned about who it might be. The open ending leaves things to our interpretation. There are two possibilities about the knock at the door: the first being the arrival of additional police forces putting Benji at risk of arrest since he was a part of the rioters. The other could be the members of Staple’s gang arriving at Izi’s door to confront him for always working against the communal values of their society and prioritizing his own advantages. On a positive note, we can also assume that the knock may be from the people of the kitchen, indicating that the raid is over and it’s safe to come out. In spite of any of these outcomes, it is important to note that Izi now prioritizes Benji’s well-being over everything else.
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