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The Kitchen Netflix Film Review: A Story of Survival, Fatherhood, and Redemption
Netflix’s 2023 film The Kitchen, co-directed by acclaimed actor Daniel Kaluuya, delivers a striking vision of a near-future dystopia that feels as raw and urgent as it is hauntingly reflective of our present. With its layered narrative, Kaluuya and co-director Kibwe Tavares craft a story that explores not just survival in a crumbling London, but also the complex webs of identity, connection, and legacy. At the heart of this The Kitchen Netflix Film Review lies a deeply psychological exploration of fatherhood, embodied in the relationship between Izi and Benji—a dynamic that begs viewers to ask: what does it truly mean to be a father?
An In-Depth Look at The Kitchen Netflix Film Review
While The Kitchen is set against the stark and unforgiving backdrop of a dystopian world, the Kitchen itself is not the focal point of the film. Instead, it serves as the stage upon which a much more intimate and universal story unfolds: the forging of a relationship between a father and son in the wake of the death of a loved one. It is this deeply personal narrative that resonated most profoundly with me, as I couldn’t help but reflect on my own experiences of longing for a father.
What Makes The Kitchen Netflix Film Review So Relatable?
I didn’t meet my father until I was thirteen, and even then, his acknowledgment and attempt at responsibility felt halfhearted. This experience enabled me to identify with the struggle between Izi and Benji. The film poignantly captures the difficulty of a father trying to reconcile years of absence and figure out where and how to pick up the pieces. It also doesn’t shy away from the reality that some men are simply not ready to take on the role of fatherhood. When that readiness is absent, the journey toward connection becomes fraught with hesitation, guilt, and unspoken pain.
Exploring the Struggles of Fatherhood in The Kitchen Netflix Film Review
For Izi, this hesitation and denial of fatherhood may stem from his own unresolved trauma. Hints of Izi’s childhood abandonment surface throughout the film, suggesting that his refusal to fully embrace parenting Benji could be rooted in his own painful experiences of neglect. His defensive and avoidant behavior comes to a head during a pivotal scene in a diner, where Benji confronts him about his negligent behavior. After having left Benji behind at the underground skating rink days earlier, Izi offers a flimsy justification, telling Benji that “he didn’t know his mom.” This statement not only poorly excuses his behavior but also reflects Izi’s deeper struggle to connect with and accept Benji as his responsibility.
The diner scene is a turning point, but not in the way audiences might hope. Izi abandons Benji for the last time, walking away and leaving the boy alone once more. Alone, Benji returns to Izi’s apartment in the Kitchen, while Izi moves into a newer and better-quality apartment elsewhere, symbolizing his attempt to leave the past behind. However, life in the Kitchen grows increasingly dangerous, culminating in another raid—this time more violent and deadly. Benji manages to hide successfully in Izi’s apartment during the chaos, but the raid forces the Kitchen’s residents to move out. Left with no other option, Benji returns to the apartment where he once lived with his mother, Toni.
A Tense and Emotional Reunion: The Kitchen Netflix Film Review
Meanwhile, Izi’s new apartment provides no solace. Far from finding peace, he is tormented by guilt and regret over abandoning Benji. His actions weigh heavily on him, as he is haunted by memories of their encounters and the unresolved pain of their fractured relationship. Unable to bear the weight of his decision, Izi eventually goes to Toni’s apartment, where he finds Benji. The reunion is tense and heartbreaking. Benji, understandably hurt and wary, initially rejects Izi. It is here that Izi finally apologizes, confronting his guilt and vulnerability in a moment of raw honesty.
This powerful conclusion ties together the film’s themes of abandonment, reconciliation, and the fragile hope for redemption. It captures the messy, imperfect journey of a man trying to piece together a relationship with his son and come to terms with his own shortcomings. The story reminds us that healing is rarely linear and that the scars of the past can linger, even as we strive to move forward.
With its gritty visuals, unforgettable performances, and deeply personal storytelling, The Kitchen transcends its dystopian setting to tell a universal story of love, loss, and the fragile hope for connection. This The Kitchen Netflix Film Review highlights a film that asks us to look beyond the surface and into the heart of what it means to endure, reconcile, and rediscover family in the most unlikely of circumstances.
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