Boiling Point

The psycho-geography of a restaurant kitchen in its full-blown chaos, claustrophobia and exhilaration is captured perfectly in Boiling Point. The simmering escalation of stress over the course of one evening’s service is exacerbated by nightmare customers, unexpected food allergies, disengaged staff and food supply shortages. Real tenderness creeps in when the kitchen staff’s personal lives encroach on their professional lives with self harm, familial disintegration and racism all contributing to a sense of burning crescendo.

The central personification of this fast-evolving nightmare is embodied by the Head Chef, played completely convincingly by Stephen Graham. It is easy to buy into his inner turmoils without ever having them explained, his inner vulnerability projecting outwardly through erratic kitchen management and spiky dialogue. The panicked viewing experience is heightened by the fact that the whole movie is shot all in one take. This impressive choreography contributes to the authentic feel of the film, contributing to the feeling of real-time integration over the course of one evening. Watching Boiling Point is sure to raise the heart rate, but more importantly, evoke compassion for under-paid, over-worked behind-the-scenes staff in the service and catering trades.