This mesmerizing documentary introduces us to the Japanese sushi chef, Jiro Ono. At 85 years old, he is considered to be the best sushi chef in the world. His small 10-seat Tokyo bar has been awarded the ultimate three-stars ranking by the highly regarded Michelin Red Guide, which classifies the best of the best with regards to international restaurants.
Directed by David Gelb, this film quietly captures the relentless discipline and quest for perfection sought out by Jiro, even at this advanced stage in his life, even with all the accolades. His eldest son, Yoshikazu has been groomed to take the helm, yet restaurant critics, faithful customers, even those in his own family, know that this is futile. However, it’s the theme of the quest for perfection and familial honor that keeps Yoshikazu seemingly undaunted by such definitive conclusions.
The film treats the art of making sushi like an orchestral movement or a ballet, which allows the viewer to see, in hypnotic slow motion, the beauty of prepping the best Japanese tuna, even octopus, and how they are transformed into tiny works of simple, edible art, showcased on pristine jet-black canvases. In addition, the process of creating authentic tomagoyaki (grilled egg) is fascinating, and the rice… definitely not the rice from any old plug-in rice cooker you buy from the hardware store. One recommendation: Don’t eat before watching, because you are going to want nothing but sushi after viewing this film in Blu-ray. You can almost taste every close-up. Sushi for dessert, perhaps?
Inspiring, the film reminds us to find what we absolutely love to do, do it, and do it well. However, the underlying layer, and pressure, of continuing longstanding family tradition at just about any cost taps into something much deeper. Jiro Dreams of Sushi is a remarkable peering into a culture where the blurry line between passion for career and love for family is as thin as sugi. BSo
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