So I've been having trouble picking what to watch and decided to Google 'great Netflix movies'. Clicking on the first link and going through the first category, "Documentaries," I came across Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Not only was this movie on my list of movies to watch, but I've been really into sushi lately and thought it was silly that I haven't seen this documentary yet.
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| Jiro Ono (center) and his staff. |
In any case, the documentary was quite educational. To start, it's clear that being a sushi chef is hard, but I don't think I realized how hard until watching this film. In fact, the occupation appears to be as hard as getting a doctorate degree.
While the documentary doesn't explicitly talk about the difficulty, it certainly focuses on the sheer work and quality that Jiro puts into making sushi, and also the importance that his sons, staff, and fish vendors play in moving towards perfection.
In addition to Jiro's past and the details concerning Jiro's passion and his restaurant, the documentary also delves into the tension and relationship between Jiro and his elder son Yoshikazu.
Overall, Jiro Dreams of Sushi is more than a documentary about sushi, it's a documentary about passion and life. Even if you don't like sushi or have yet to try it (you should!), I would still highly recommend this documentary.
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| ...you must immerse yourself in your work. |
20180711:
Today I watched this documentary with my dad and my wife. My sister was watching a little bit of it, too.
Instant Comments:
2: I forgot this documentary was subtitled.
1: Hehe. They probably try enough throughout the day that they don't need to eat any meals.
1: I could imagine how at some point it may be frustrating when you always want to improve. At some point, it slows down.
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| Jiro's elder son Yoshikazu Ono. |
1: Haha. The difference is only that he stopped smoking.
1, 2:
When I was in first grade, I was told "You have no home to go back to. That's why you have to work hard." I knew that I was on my own. And I didn't want to have to sleep at the temple or under a bridge so I had to work just to survive. That has never left me. I worked even if the boss kicked or slapped me. Nowadays, parents tell their children, "You can return if it doesn't work out." When parents say stupid things like that, the kids turn out to be failures.
1: He convinced them not to go to college. Which to me isn't a big deal, college is overrated.
2: I don't recall this tidbit when watching the first time around: "In Japan, the eldest son succeeds his father's position. That's what is expected of me."
1: What a strange effect. (needing to be twice as good to be seen as equal)
1: Wow. That tuna market. Awesome.
1: "But just when you think you know it all, you realize that you're just fooling yourself... and then you get depressed." - fish salesman
1: Ten years with Jiro to be a first-rate chef. Not bad. It's like getting a doctorate in sushi.
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| Jiro samples the fish to make sure its ready. |
1: Hehe. After 10 years, they let you make the eggs.
1: Various attention to detail. The following was mentioned: adjusts sushi size by gender so they finish at the same time, handedness, and memorizes seating. 2: The women eat smaller pieces.
1: I think the best fact is that the restaurant only serves sushi, no appetizers.
2: Interesting snippet about fish preservation. It concludes with "However, that doesn't mean they should catch all the fish to the brink of extinction. For posterity we must be conscious of this issue."
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| Hachiro Mizutani, a former apprentice of Jiro |
2: His story on what he should tell the school kids was inspiring. He concluded by saying "Always doing what you are told doesn't mean you'll succeed in life."
1: Whoa. What a fact. Supposedly his son did all the preparation during all the Michelin visits.
1=20150913, 2=20180711
Watched 20150913 (Netflix, Instant)
Watched 20180711 (Netflix, Instant)
Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011) David Gelb. 81 min
Relevant Links:
Jiro Dreams of Sushi (Wikipedia.org)
Jiro Dreams of Sushi (IMDb.com)
Jiro Dreams of Sushi (RottenTomatoes.com)
