Donate
What's On
View full program

Morte Cucina

Directed by Pen-ek Ratanaruang
Thailand
2025
121 mins
Unclassified 18+
Revenge is a dish best served with delicious Thai flavours in this tantalising psychological thriller from Thai auteur Pen-ek Ratanaruang (Samui Song, SFF 2018). Shot by acclaimed Australian cinematographer Christopher Doyle (In the Mood for Love).

Sao (Bella Boonsang, excellent) grew up as a Muslim in the south of Thailand. Forced into exile after a traumatic incident, she now works as a waitress at a Bangkok restaurant. Sao is also a talented chef of Thai cuisine. When she one day encounters a customer at the restaurant that she remembers from her past, a man who upended her life, Sao decides to exact revenge – in a most unexpected manner. Beautifully shot by Christopher Doyle (In the Mood for Love), with lovingly rendered depictions of the cooking process and the food, the enigmatically constructed Morte Cucina is a blackly funny revenge thriller. Or as director Ratanaruang describes it: "It is a sous-vide of a revenge deliciously served. Thai style."

“Pen-ek is most interested in using lovingly photographed, gratuitous food as a metaphor for simmering emotions and fateful indulgence, underpinned by an affecting atmospheric soundscape.”
Elizabeth Kerr, Screen International
“Ratanaruang’s film speaks to the codependent nature of love and hate, and it makes a highly compelling argument for getting some Thai food after the movie.”
Katie Rife, RogerEbert.com
“Pen-ek is most interested in using lovingly photographed, gratuitous food as a metaphor for simmering emotions and fateful indulgence, underpinned by an affecting atmospheric soundscape.”
Elizabeth Kerr, Screen International

Special Guests

Pen-ek Ratanaruang
Director

Pen-ek Ratanaruang made his debut as a feature film director in 1997 with a movie that broke the mould of Thai cinema called FUN BAR KARAOKE. Since then, he has been recognized as a major pioneer in the Thai New Wave cinema of the late 1990s / early 2000s. Four of his films – 6IXTYNIN9, MONRAK TRANSISTOR, LAST LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE, and HEADSHOT – were Thailand’s official submissions to the Foreign Language Film Oscar category. His films have been screened in major festivals and have been distributed worldwide.

Tickets

Sat 6 June 2026, 8:15pm
Past Event
Event Cinemas George Street - Cinema 3
Event George St - Cinema 3
1 Guest
Assisted ListeningWheelchair
Sun 7 June 2026, 8:40pm
Past Event
Dendy Newtown - Cinema 1
Dendy Newtown - Cinema 1
1 Guest
Assisted ListeningWheelchair
See more, save more with a Flexipass or Youth Pass

Limited seats are available for patrons requiring access for wheelchairs, low vision and hearing loop. Please contact our ticketing team directly on 1300 733 733 or tickets@sff.org.au to complete your booking, or see our Access & Inclusion page for more information.

  • Program Strand
    Features
  • Year
    2025
  • Classification
    Unclassified 18+
  • Country
    Thailand, Singapore, Taiwan, France, Luxembourg
  • Language
    In English and Thai with English subtitles
  • Director
    Pen-ek Ratanaruang
  • Producer
    Soros Sukhum
  • Cast
    Bella Thanatphon Boonsang, Kris Srepoomseth, Nopachai Chaiyanam
  • Screenwriter
    Pen-ek Ratanaruang, Kongdej Jaturanrasmee
  • Cinematographer
    Christopher Doyle
  • Genre
    Women’s Stories, Thriller & Crime
  • Premiere
    Australian Premiere
  • Company Credits
    Sales Agent: Goodfellas
Aboriginal FlagTorres Strait Flag

Sydney Film Festival acknowledges Australia’s First Nations People as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land, and pay respect to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, upon whose Country SFF is based.

We honour the storytelling and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.

Don’t miss a thing!

Whether you’re in Sydney or one of our rural locations, sign up to our newsletters for all the latest news and offers.

SFF
  • Submissions
  • Festival Hub
  • Tickets
  • Films & Events
About
  • Contact Us
  • Our Organisation
  • Jobs
  • Media Releases
Support
  • Individual Support
  • Partnerships
General Enquiries
  • 02 8220 6600
  • info@sff.org.au
Ticketing Enquiries
  • 1300 733 733
  • tickets@sff.org.au
Office Hours

MONDAY – FRIDAY: 9AM – 5PM AEDT

Discover
  • The Living Archive
  • Travelling Film Festival
Follow
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Letterboxd
In Partnership With:
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
Website by ED.

Don't miss a thing!

Whether you're in Sydney or one of our rural locations, sign up to our newsletters for all the latest news and offers.

Search films, venues, guests...
Explore
Browse All Films A-ZTickets and FlexipassesView Calendar
Suggested Searches
What's playing at the State Theatre?Official CompetitionWhat's on at the Hub?
Search films, venues, guests...
Explore
Browse All Films A-ZTickets and FlexipassesView Calendar
Suggested Searches
What's playing at the State Theatre?Official CompetitionWhat's on at the Hub?