The fictional mega-estate in sci-fi film The Kitchen was designed to "flip the idea of dystopia on its head", says director Kibwe Tavares, who is also a co-founder of VFX studio Factory Fifteen.
The Netflix release follows the story of Izi and Benji, played by actors Kane Robinson and Jedaiah Bannerman, who are residents of London's last remaining social housing complex, The Kitchen.
The movie is set in a future version of London where all social housing is being demolished
The film is set in 2044, at a time when the entire city is being turned into private developments.
Tavares directed the film in partnership with actor Daniel Kaluuya, while his co-founder at Factory Fifteen, the late Jonathan Gales, was the creative lead for the film's striking visual effects. Lead characters Izi and Benji are residents of a housing estate called The Kitchen
Speaking to Dezeen, Tavares said the ambition behind The Kitchen was to "create a last bastion of all the things that make London what it is".
The estate is plagued by issues that include limited running water, drone surveillance and regular police raids. Yet there is a strong sense of community that contrasts with the new Buena Vida developments also featured in the film, which are depicted as bland and soulless.
The Kitchen is in stark contrast to the new Buena Vida developments
"I was trying to show the richness of culture and life that you have in these places," explained Tavares.
"I wanted to f...