The difference between a good documentary and a bad one lies
in the ability of the storyteller to draw the viewer in and make him interested
in the subject matter. A bad documentary about an interesting subject can kill
and a good documentary on a subject that most don't care about can pull you in.
Most lie somewhere in the middle. But then there are documentaries that are
simple and elegant and you suddenly find yourself wanting to watch till the
end. JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI is one of those films.
Jiro Ono is a master sushi chef. His title and abilities
have been developed over a period of nearly 75 years. At 85 he continues to
come to work every day, hating those days when he's not there. Working in a
small restaurant in the basement of a Tokyo office building, Jiro has become
the ultimate man to speak of when it comes to sushi. His restaurant was the
first to garner a three star rating from Michelin, the ultimate achievement for
those included.
Rather than focus on the years it took for Jiro to establish
himself the film looks at his life now and his two sons, Yoshikazu and Takashi.
The obligatory back history is provided but not the main idea presented.
Instead the film looks at the life of Jiro and his obsession for perfection. To
this day even after the accolades he has received he continues to feel he can
do better and strives to do so. Each piece of sushi is hand crafted by Jiro to
make it not just a source of nourishment but an enjoyment for the customer as
well.
At 85 Jiro can't carry on forever and the film delves into
the lives of his sons as well. Yoshikazu is 50 and works in the restaurant
alongside his father. He is a master of the craft as well but will forever live
in the shadow of his father. And yet he stays and helps, learning every day and
passing the information on to those who work with them.
Takashi has moved on and created his own restaurant
elsewhere in town. Like his brother, he too will have to live in the shadow of
his father. But even if these two men only achieve half the success of Jiro,
they will become legendary in their own right.
The film follows everything about the life of Jiro with the
exception of being home. Since most of his time is spent at the restaurant
that's where most of it takes place. He talks of how dedicated he is to this
world. He also talks about how he wasn't always there for his sons when they
were growing up. But the dedication to his profession and his family shines
through.
I don't like sushi but even I wanted to try some of the
items on display in this film. Jiro does indeed make incredible looking food
but simple food as well. His philosophy on what he makes comes through from the
start.
By the film's end it does what every great documentary does,
it draws you into its topic and holds you there for 81 minutes. You find
yourself wondering what a trip to Tokyo would be like and how you would find
this small restaurant, knowing that to get in you need to make reservations a
month in advance. And you find yourself admiring this small 85 year old man for
living the life he chose and finding happiness in that. It's all anyone can
hope for.
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