Jiro Dreams of Sushi has been in my watch list for quite a while. I have seen it appear on a number of list of Japanese movies to watch, and also talked about in the lecture for my course of Asian popular culture. Thus, when I found out it’s available on Netflix, I had to watch it.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi is an American Japanese-language documentary film released in 2011, directed by David Gelb. The film is mainly about Jiro Ono, an 85 year old passionate sushi master and his 3 star Michelin restaurant, Sukiyabashi Jiro. It also features his two sons, Takashi and Yoshikazu, who are both following their dad’s footsteps.
The film is an absolute visual pleasure. There were so many beautiful shots of scenery, people, and stills, but of course the highlight is the food preparation and the close ups of stunning sushis. I adore the use of slow motions, which often make an appearance during food preparation, making the action shot elegant and our tummy churns. My favourites has to be the close up shot of the freshly made sushis, sitting beautifully on top of the plate, the sauce glazing the fish glistened ever so gracefully. There are also a lot of scenery shots of the beautiful Tokyo, I especially liked those featuring its residents who can be found going about with their daily life. The transitions between each shots were engaging and smooth, most are overlaying effect, but some are more creative, like using a pole as a transition point.
How I adore the interview scenes! There are of course a lot with Jiro himself, his sons, but also with a few others (his apprentice, a food critic, etc). I find them in depth, but contain just the right amount of information. They also feel genuine and wholesome, how they capture their facial expression, and especially their laughter. It’s very smart how Gelb juxtaposes the serious, professional Jiro while he was working, and the light-hearted, witty Jiro during interviews.
Gelb did a great job in directing the movie. The pace feels just right, it’s not too fast nor slow. He manage to make it fun and not boring, an unfortunate trait I find common in documentaries. This is true in the way he introduces information, by dividing them up in sections so we don’t feel bombarded, instead slowly being filled in. One part could be about rice, while another could be on finding the right fish.
Aside from the visual, the film was also a pleasure the ears. Classical orchestra music accompanies scene of food preparation and made the shots even more so sophisticated. There’s also the usage of atmospheric sound, like the sound of seaweed slapping the iron grill and knifes slicing through the fish. Some of them are also dramatized, like the echo of water dripping.
In the end, a huge part of what makes this movie so engaging is none other than Jiro’s story itself. The fact that he works tirelessly everyday for 75 years, his passion and beliefs which were evident through his words, and his shining fun personality were such a delight. The movie brings us in to Jiro’s lives but also taught us a lot about sushi and Japanese culture. Jiro Dreams of Sushi is definitely a pleasure to watch, and I wouldn’t think twice to recommend it.
Below is the trailer of Jiro Dreams of Sushi.