For all us children of the 60s, Soul Kitchen was one of the many anthems we chose as we challenged the values of the establishment from our smoke-enhanced realities.
It was one of many memorable songs on The Doors’ debut album, released in January 1967.
It is also the title of Spotlight Films’ next film Tuesday, April 26.
The title, a few believe, is by directorial intent, being somewhat of a tribute to Morrison and his band mates.
This is a German comedy featuring the talents of director Fatih Akin (Head-On, The Edge of Heaven). It is set in the run-down warehouse district of Hamburg where restaurant owner Zino Kazantsakis (Adam Bousdoukos, Head-On, TV movie Barracuda Dancing) hires chef Shayn Weiss (Birol Unel, Head-On, Not A Love Story) to take the restaurant in a new direction, to the great annoyance of his clientele who are quite comfortable with the standard greasy fare.
One confrontation between the chef and a diner involves said diner insisting his gazpacho be heated. Weiss, a true culinary artist, is deeply offended. Surrounded by “culinary Nazis” Shayn and Zino stand their ground.
When Zino’s girlfriend, Nadine Kruger (Pheline Roggan, many German films and TV movies) leaves for China, Zino decides to follow her, leaving the establishment in the hands of his brother, Illias (Moritz Bleibtreu, Run Lola Run, The Elementary Particles), after his first choice, the waitress (Anna Bederke) turns him down.
Illais is recently released from jail and is a man with a shady lifestyle and acquaintances of nefarious character.
The trip to China does not go well, emphasized with a good comic interlude or two, and upon his return Zino discovers his brother has turned the restaurant into a club with questionable patrons.
The question: Can Zino and Shayn revive the beloved restaurant to its true calling.
This flick is done in German and Greek subtitles being the order of the day.
Seems it is worth the work though, since Soul Kitchen is rated highly with viewers from IMDB to Metacritic and is the recipient of two awards, Venice Film Festival: Special Jury Prize, Director; Young Cinema Award, Best Film and nominated for five awards, including Satellite Awards’, Best Motion Picture, Foreign Language Film.
Show time is 7:30 p.m. Bon Appétit.