A few months ago, I saw a French film with a very similar plot to "Jiro Dreams of Sushi"....and it was amazingly dull. So, I was hesitant to watch this Japanese film. Thankfully, I gave it a chance and enjoyed this documentary very much.
The film is about an amazingly talented and VERY compulsive sushi master, Jiro Ono. Now in his mid-80s, he is so in love with his work that he STILL works full-time at his small sushi restaurant. Not surprisingly, since his life is his work, his place has managed to receive three Michelin stars--the stop award for dining excellence. The film consists mostly of Jiro and his two sons discussing their work and lives and also includes several others discussing them. The narrator is only heard once--briefly. While all of this sounds pretty dull, it isn't. The filmmakers deserve kudos here--managing to infuse a lot of interest in the subject, using great camera-work (making the food look amazing) as well as terrific classical music to create a wonderful portrait of Jiro--one you can't help but enjoy.
By the way, although Jiro has two sons, the film oddly never once mentions their mother (or mothers).
The film is about an amazingly talented and VERY compulsive sushi master, Jiro Ono. Now in his mid-80s, he is so in love with his work that he STILL works full-time at his small sushi restaurant. Not surprisingly, since his life is his work, his place has managed to receive three Michelin stars--the stop award for dining excellence. The film consists mostly of Jiro and his two sons discussing their work and lives and also includes several others discussing them. The narrator is only heard once--briefly. While all of this sounds pretty dull, it isn't. The filmmakers deserve kudos here--managing to infuse a lot of interest in the subject, using great camera-work (making the food look amazing) as well as terrific classical music to create a wonderful portrait of Jiro--one you can't help but enjoy.
By the way, although Jiro has two sons, the film oddly never once mentions their mother (or mothers).