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Fatih Akın’s ‘Soul Kitchen’ nutty as a fruitcake
German-Greek Zinos (Boudoukos) is an affably blundering 30-something who has dedicated his entire life to his prize possession: Soul Kitchen, a bistro-like restaurant in the district of Wilhemsburg, where the clientele come for the deep-fried cuisine and beer, and perhaps the soul music playing from the stereo. It’s not a chi-chi place listed in the city-guide and surely a locale far from anyone who’s concerned with their cholesterol count, but Zinos succeeds in keeping the informal and warm atmosphere with the help of his bartender and ball-busting young waitress Lucia (lovely newcomer Anna Bederke). But for Zinos things start getting out of hand once his girlfriend Nadia (Pheline Roggan) heads out for a job in Shanghai; she wants him to leave the restaurant and move with her across the world. It’s a given that dear old Skype only works for a certain period of time. Not to say that Nadia is a nagging harpy, but Zinos has to start dealing with other pressing problems.
Zinos’s older brother Illias (Akın favorite Moritz Bleibtreu) has just gotten out of jail for theft and gambling, and asks Zinos for a job at the restaurant. Unfortunately Illias is not the safest bet or the most reliable person around. In the meantime, Zinos decides to hire a real cook -- the star chef Shayn (Birol Ünel), whose scrumptious menu initially wards off the regulars but starts drawing in a more hipster crowd. Life gets more complicated when Zinos’ high school buddy Neumann, now a real estate shark, tries every possible way to buy up the restaurant property, a tax officer comes to collect the uncollectable debts of the business and, even worse, a restaurant health official attempts to close down Zinos’ kitchen. On top of that, our poor Zinos gets a massive hernia trying to lift the dishwasher. The question remains whether he can save his restaurant, hand it over to his brother Illias and buy a one-way ticket to Shanghai.
If only life were that simple: As soon as Zinos gives power of attorney over to Illias, he loses the place to Neumann in a poker game. Plus it seems like Nadine is not as enthusiastic about the relationship as she used to be. Fortuitously, all’s well that ends well, and despite all the commotion, everyone around Zinos loves the restaurant and will do anything to get it back.
Feels right at home
What is so heart-warming about “Soul Kitchen” is that each of its characters -- not that they don’t have their faults, but -- every one of them bring a gusto that makes the viewer feel right at home. Watching the film, one feels as through they were strolling through their own neighborhood, greeting all the eccentric but amiable neighbors that one can feel at ease with. It is this general communal feeling that transforms the film and the restaurant into such a welcoming world.
With the help of cinematographer Rainer Klausmann’s earthy tones and Andrew Bird’s seamless editing, Akın brings a film that flows like water and runs a short 98 minutes without leaving any holes that might arise out of having so many characters.
Here Akın portrays his own dear Hamburg, a bustling place with lively streets, parties, shops and people. Lead Boudoukos manages to carry the film on his shoulders and gives a performance which is a cross between classic Chaplin and Harvey Keitel in “Mean Streets” -- stumbling around with his leather jacket and his hernia, he never loses his cool while we’re roaring with laughter.
“Soul Kitchen” is the kind of film that manages to bring a smile of sheer joy even in the grumpiest of viewers. Cast and crew, it’s the people who make it work. And as such, this is not a party you want to miss.
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