The Festival de Málaga this Friday brought to a close the programme of the Cinema Cuisine with the screening of Uno de los nuestros. Legado Joan Roca (One of Ours. Legacy Joan Roca) by Jorge Fernández Mayoral and Virginia Jönas Urigüen, an out-of-competition feature film that offers an intimate and human portrait of one of the most influential figures in Spanish gastronomy.
 
The documentary starts from a simple premise: "You can only be a good chef if you are a good person", in the words of Juan Mari Arzak. This was a collective tribute in which twenty chefs with a combined total of seventy Michelin stars came together, under the initiative of the Malaga-born Dani García to celebrate the legacy of Joan Roca with an unrepeatable dinner.
 
During the film, the viewer travels through some of the country's most influential kitchens, while portraying the profile of a chef marked by family influence, sensitivity and the ability to transform gastronomy. The film is articulated as a journey through the friendship, generosity and emotions that have accompanied the evolution of the so-called techno-emotional revolution.
 
The subsequent colloquium was attended by the directors Jorge Fernández Mayoral and Virginia Jönas Urigüen, and the chef Joan Roca, while the attendees tasted a Victoria 10 beer with Hacienda Victoria 70% bonbon, pink and peach bonbon, and dark chocolate and hazelnut rocks.
 
Roca explained that the film had, almost by chance, become "a marvellous tribute" and "a brilliant documentary", which he defined as "a gift". For her part, the director pointed out that the aim was to find out "what legacy Joan Roca has left in other kitchens". Jönas Urigüen expressed her satisfaction that since they presented it "in San Sebastian, it has been a great success and people all over the world have understood the message".
 
Jorge Fernández pointed out that "as time goes by you enjoy it more and we feel more fortunate to have spent time with Joan", while warning the audience: "You are lucky enough to have Joan with you right now. I talk a lot, but when Joan talks you have to keep quiet because he has a lot to say.
 
In a packed Echegaray Theatre, the Catalan chef predicted a good future for Spanish gastronomy: "It's going to get better for sure. Our location in the Mediterranean and the fact that we have first class products is a big influence. We are what generates an international image, but the basis is the traditional cuisine that nourishes us", he added.
 
With this session, Cinema Cocina bids farewell to this year's Festival de Málaga, reaffirming its commitment to bringing the public stories with which to discover the inner workings of the industry through film.