Crumbs, what a film!
They say that ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’ – but that’s what makes Boiling Point so darn good. It catches the essence of what it’s like to work in the service industry. If you never have, wowzers, you can now witness what you missed out on. As the swan looks graceful above the water, it’s certainly pushing hard below the surface.
Undeniably, this film ages you. Rushing between the zones of the restaurant very much in a Crystal Maze style, you get utterly lost as the drama unfurls itself in front of your very eyes. Small screen or in the cinema, you quickly forget you’re meant to be enjoying the experience. As an outsider, viewing their intertwining stories from the comfort of your armchair, the politics utterly captivates you.
But that’s the point – and that’s what makes this film so genuinely clever and addicting to watch.
Modern life is full of complications, we all know that, but what’s magic is when you think about these characters’ destinies. Emulated (almost too) perfectly, the political dynamics of friendships, relationships, and bottled-up emotions reveal themselves as paths cross and necessity demands. How the producers captured the politics of life with such raw intensity is beyond my remit, but on screen, it seems unequivocally effortless.
Doubtlessly, Boiling Point is hugely engrossing. For me, there’s just one reason for that: no jump cuts. To the viewer, the fact that it was produced in just one take is almost an afterthought as you float between rooms and characters. For those who remember 1917, this film takes what they did to a whole other level. Indeed, it is only once you have processed the intense performance that you even begin to consider how well-oiled the machine must have been behind-the-scenes. Oh, to have been a fly-on-the-wall during that hour and a half!
Drama can only be good when you forget that they are acting – and that was certainly the case here. From the big-name protagonists of Andy (Stephen Graham), Carly (Vinette Robinson), and Beth (Alice Feetham), to the chefs, service staff, and diners in the background, there is a lot to digest. Andy’s goose is cooked, Carly is on her way out, and Beth is faking it until she makes it: and oof, how we have all felt like that sometimes.
Whilst the pressure is insane and the nerves are certainly shredded, this film is a cut above the rest – but not in the way you’d expect. This is not a big-budget greenscreen drama, and it is certainly not set in an exotic location either; it’s the little moments which make Boiling Point stick in your mind. Notably, the dynamic between the up-and-coming pastry chef Jamie (Stephen McMillan) and his senior Emily (Hannah Walters) still gives me shivers to this day – and I’m not afraid to say I went through the emotions with them.
Aside from the moments of intimacy, imagine being told false promises which never get acted on. Consider being that person who everyone relies on but never pulls through. Think about being at the bottom of the career ladder, with no way of knowing if you’re doing right from wrong. We have all been there, and that’s why Boiling Point makes you think. Making you reflect on your own life is surely the most impactful message to take away from any piece of art you consume.
During each intimate glimpse into the lives of the characters, they become more complicated. You never consider the real reason behind Andy’s commitment issues. You never think about the feelings of the hardiest people. You never realise that life is a web of problems and solutions… until it’s too late. For me, the film will make me think twice about the food that magically appears when I am ‘treating myself’ at my local eatery, and appreciate what we often take for granted.
It’s gritty. It’s raw. It’s like real life… And that’s exactly why you need to see it. Be prepared for tears, high blood pressure and shredded nerves, but it will be totally worth your time.
5/5