Let me say up front that I loved this movie. Why? It was an
engaging story about a woman determined to better herself and her family, who
rises not with the help of a protest group or organized movement but by working
hard and standing up for herself. This is a character that every young woman in
the country should see to help them realize they can stand up for themselves
and move forward on their own and no one can stop them if they do.
Juana (Diana Elizabeth Torres) is a single mother living
with her father and daughter who has dreams of working as a chef. She knows how
to cook, she knows what is needed but what she hasn’t had is the opportunity to
prove herself. Working at a fruit cart she and her father own, she is attacked
and robbed one day which sets her off to tell her father that things could be
better.
Walking by a sushi restaurant she notices a sign in the
window saying they are hiring. Talking to the wife of the owner she gets a
position at the restaurant working in the back. But she doesn’t just accept her
role there. She begins watching how things are done and learns more and more
each day. She watches the sushi chefs in front to see how things are done.
Noticing her watching, head chef Aki (Yutaka Takeuchi) helps her to understand
the various intricacies of how things are done.
He teaches her how to make the rice they use in a specific
way and she practices at home. He does the same with how they cut the fish and
how other things are handled. Already owning a chef’s knife of her own Aki is
stunned with how quick she learns. None of that will come in handy when it
comes to talking to the owner of the store, Mr. Yoshida.
As old school as they come Mr. Yoshida refuses to allow a
woman to work the front line of his restaurant. As far as he is concerned they
come her for an authentic sushi experience and there is no place for a woman in
that. Knowing she is fully capable this bothers Juana but rather than fight
with the owner she continues to work on her skills.
As she researches more and more about the history and skills
needed to be a top sushi chef Juana discovers a contest for the most skilled
sushi chefs in the city. Not only do the contestants need to have top skills
they need to create a dish that is their own. As she experiments with different
dishes on her family Juana’s skill vastly improve to the point that Aki wants
to use her more at the restaurant. When Yoshida objects Juana takes matters
into her own hands and enters the contest. With only 4 out of the many who will
apply her odds aren’t likely. When she is selected to compete you find yourself
rooting for her to win. But will she?
This movie was a joy to watch. What makes it so is a
combination of the story, the performances and the emotions tied into the path
that Juana takes. Each moment on screen isn’t a wasted one, with all of the
subtle things we see helping to fill out what could have been a short film but
instead is a feature that holds your interest from start to finish. You can’t
help but root for the underdog here and don’t let that term bring to you
memories of Rocky Balboa. Juana is her own character and is fully fleshed out
with a great performance by Torres, enough that I’m looking forward to seeing
her in other roles.
To use a culinary phrase to describe this film it refreshes
the palate with something quite tasty and sparkling that will leave you hungry
for more. This is one I can see myself watching more than once.
Click here to order.
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