THE KITCHEN BRIGADE/ LA BRIGADE

France, 2021, 97 minutes, Colour.

Audrey Lamy, François Cluzet, Chantal Neuwirth,Yannick Kalombo, Amadou Bah, Mamamdou Koita, Alpha Barry, Stephane Brell, Chloe Astor.

Directed by Louis-Julien Petit.

It’s just as well the English title for this French comedy drama includes the word “Kitchen”. The French have simply called it La Brigade - which means that some audiences might have thought it was a military film rather than a focus on chefs and their creative skills.

Which also means that this is a film which will attract the audience which enjoys television cooking programs. In fact, that’s the way this film starts, lavish setups for filming a program but with one of the chefs, Cathy Marie (Audrey Lamy) clashing with the star, insisting on using her recipes rather than what the script demands. And, so, out. And, standing on the highway, making phone calls, looking for a new job.

When she does go for her new job, she finds that the organisation has over-hyped their advertisement and requirements. This is an organisation, a hostel for young male migrants who, as yet, have no ID for France. The young men, from a variety of countries, from Africa and from the Middle East, are to be enrolled in schools to get some qualification and their papers. Some are learning French.

Of course, this is not Cathy Marie was expecting, especially when she sees the actual kitchen and the range of tins in the cupboards. But, Sabine, the matron of the house is a large very friendly type, always encouraging. We all know where this is going in the sense that Cathy Marie is going to mellow but the interesting focus is how and why.

We meet quite a number of the young men, especially one called Gusgus, short, keen, exuberant, supportive of Cathy Marie. As might be guessed, there is a range in the young men, some with their headphones perpetually on and incommunicative, another, with great soccer potential, refusing to take orders from a woman, but others who are genial. Which means then that a number of them will find their place in the kitchen, initially being tested about how to peel and slice a shallot, then cooking techniques, learning to wait tables, everybody delighted with these skills – and the appetising results.

This film is very sympathetic to migrants, not treating them as statistics (although there is a harrowing scene where the boys’ bones are x-rayed for DNA to check whether they are telling the truth about their age and are not over 18, which some are). Rather, this is a humanitarian approach, respecting people, young and old, looking for opportunities to help rather than deportation.

This is the kind of film that those involved in migration departments might look at and reflect.

The finale is somewhat eye-opening, a cooking competition, television audience – and vindication of Cathy Marie and her students.

Not a film great, but enjoyable one with message and a heart.

1. Talking film? A social concern film? A challenge for people to do better with their lives?
2. The settings, the television studio and the kitchen, the countryside, the open roads and traffic, the home for the migrants, interiors, old, neglected, the kitchen, dining space? Official offices? The extravaganza of the final television show, the open spaces, the pop-up restaurants? The musical score, the songs?
3. Migration issues in 21^st-century France? Migrants from Asia, from Africa? Without ID? In detention, the organisation to find schools and programs for the young men? Deportation after 18? The film is an appeal for a more humanitarian approach to migrants? Support, opportunities? The whole point of the final scene, Cathy Marie’s kitchen, springing it on the television company, the young crew and their television presentation and their skills in kitchen and waiting?
4. Cathy Marie and her story, middle-aged, the touch of the bitterness, saving up for her own restaurant, her skills, her recipes, the TV celebrity, the clash, her walking out? For two and the scenes of filming for her promotion is an actress? Their friendship, her later helping out with the shopping, in the finale? The flashbacks to Cathy, no parents, the institutions, working, her skills, her being promoted, skills as a chef?
5. Having no job, the response and visit to the house, her initial reaction, the encounter with Sabine and her cheerfulness, the interviews with Lorenzo, her accommodation, uncomfortable, Sabine listening to the television cooking show? The kitchen, the cans? Encountering the youngsters, the young man listening to music and not answering, the happy response fromGusgus, arduous…?
6. The portrait of the young men, the range of ages, different countries and backgrounds, phone calls from mothers? Ambitions? Learning French and its difficulties? The maths class, and their benefiting by knowing kitchen problems rather than abstract maths? The possibilities to help in the kitchen, learning a profession? The soccer background, Lorenzo and his injury?
7. Cathy Marie, the initial cooking, late, her doing the shopping, changing the menu, improving it, the response of the boys, Sabine an encouragement? The best of peeling and slicing the shots? Going out to dig out the vegetables? Learning in the kitchen? Cathy instructing, encouraged? Her team, the experiment with the cooking, those in charge, those doing the sources, those doing the waiting, Gusgus and the washing up? The presentation of the meal, the applause?
8. Djibril and his stances, not being ordered about by women, not cooking, shoplifting, the return, the discussion with Cathy Marie, explanation of the soccer during the match, her supporting him, going to the match, his skills, but not chosen?
9. The Berlin DNA tests and the rejection of those 18 and over?
10. The young men, the responding to the skills, their sense of pride, collaboration with Cathy Marie? Her discussions with Lorenzo, hostile about his stances? Yet his promoting the cooking course for the Institute?
11. The finale, the cooking program, Cathy Marie in the finals, on TV, the pop-up restaurant, the whole plan, the students and their being part of the program, the appeal to the public? The work of the compere, his status, continually improvising, the camera work…?
12. Cathy Marie’s return, the acclaim from the students? Her future?
13. The enjoyment of the cooking and visuals of the meal was, the comedy with the characters, the pathos with the characters, and the message of open hearts about migration?