SOUL KITCHEN
Germany, 2009, 99 minutes, Colour.
Adam Bousdoukos, Moritz Bleibtreu, Birol Unel, Anna Bederke, Pheline Roggan.
Directed by Fatih Akin.
Fateh Akin is best known for his strong dramas concerning Germans and Turks, Head on and Edge of Heaven. He has also made a documentary on Turkish music. This time, while he has used his love for popular music, he has opted for a lighter story, with the touches of the comic, even of farce.
Soul Kitchen is the name of a restaurant in a run down area of Hamburg. It is popular with the locals who like the security of their burgers and chips. The owner is Zinos (Adam ), a Greek German. He has more than his share of problems, slipping a disk while trying to lift a washing machine (and, irritatingly, refusing to get medical or alternate medical help until rather late in the day). His girlfriend has accepted a reporter's job in Shanghai - and he wants to join her there, Skyping in the meantime. His brother (Moritz Bleibtreu) is a burglar on day release from prison who wants a job but is allergic to work (he says he can go through the motions). Zinos employs a temperamental chef who does wonders with food but alienates the burger brigade. An old friend of Zinos covets his building and makes him offers that he hopes he won't refuse. Musician friends use the restaurant for rehearsals.
This makes for quite a melting pot of plot lines, sometimes treated realistically, sometimes farcically (in a Germanic humour kind of way). German critics have pointed out that the original language is very strong and crass (but is much less in the subtitles).
Adam makes a sympathetic Zinos who has some ambitions in life but finds much to thwart him. However, if one perseveres, taking suspicious steps as well as genuine steps, who knows where it will lead?
Fateh Akin humorous, humane and light.
1.A German comedy, Turkish perspective, Greek perspective?
2.The city of Hamburg, the feel for the city, the locations, the restaurants, streets, airport, apartments and offices? Realistic background to a comic story?
3.The range of songs used throughout the film, commenting on the action, the score?
4.The title, a food film, ordinary food, takeaway, high cuisine, the focus on preparation, cooking, serving, layout? The kitchen location, its transformation? The photography of the food? The introduction to Zinos, his Greek background, German? Hard at work, the kitchen, the customers? His staff, waiting on the tables? The range of customers, ordinary? The restaurant and its space, style? Nadine and the phone call, going to the meal with her family, the grandmother, the discussions about her going to China, the family reaction, his not being willing, their relationship, living together, going to the airport, the farewell?
5.The fashionable restaurant, the customer wanting the hot gazpacho, Shayne and his tantrum, insulting the customer, being fired? Outside, Zinos interacting with him, later employing him? Shayne going to Zinos’s kitchen, his preparation of exotic food, the ordinary customers wanting their hamburgers and pizza, the mass exodus? Lucia and the staff, Lutz, the waiter, his band? The new customers, the opening of the dance school, their coming in, liking the food, the music? The profitability? Zinos prospering? The meeting with Neumann, his visit to the restaurant, photography, the tax authorities and taking away the stereo, the health authorities and Neumann reporting him?
6.Neumann, friend from the past, his petulant girlfriend, his business partner, buying the buildings, prostitution, the men listening in, the photos, the reports, the visit? His being at the party, the tax inspector and the sexual encounter, the contracts, playing cards with Illias, the documentation, getting ownership? The vengeance of the tax woman, in prison?
7.Zinos, the washing machine, his back going out, his going to Anna, her advice, the exercises, exercises while dancing? His return to her for treatment? The massage and its effect? Finally going to the Turkish back manipulator, his fears, better?
8.Illias, in jail, his day leave, visiting his brother, getting money, his wanting a job, not wanting to work? Gambling, his interest in Lucia, going to the club, the music, his feeling insulted, getting his friends to rob the club? His interactions with his brother? His learning music at the restaurant? His not wanting Lucia to know about his prison sentence? Zinos and the drinking, revealing the truth to Lucia? Going back to prison, his gambling against Neumann, losing the building, signing the documents, his having power of attorney, the final burglary, his confessing? Back in prison?
9.Shayne and his character, helping to train Zinos, then disappearing?
10.Socrates, renting the boatshed, enjoying the good food, helping out?
11.Zinos and Nadine, the communication through Skype? His giving power of attorney to his brother, packing, going to the airport, seeing Nadine and her Chinese friend, the death of her grandmother? His collapse, in hospital, leaving, waiting outside the home, going to the funeral, his reaction, Nadine and her response, talking things over, borrowing the money from her?
12.Zinos and his disasters, losing Nadine, losing the restaurant? The burglary, getting the documents, getting caught? Going to the auction, paying the money with Nadine’s help, Socrates and the coin in the entrepreneur’s mouth, winning the restaurant back?
13.Humour, strengths of human nature, foibles? The optimistic outlook?
