I’ve never been a fan of sushi, but viewing an upcoming documentary may result in a change of habit. Director David Gelb captured the life of one of the world’s best sushi chefs, the 85 year-old Jiro Ono, in Jiro Dreams of Sushi. He followed his quest for perfection as well as his tenuous relationship with his son. The film recently picked up the world cinema audience award at AFI Fest and has played at Stockholm, Tribeca and more. I’m always fond of documentaries that excel just beyond the subject at hand, and this looks to do so. Check out the trailer below via Apple.
Synopsis:
JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI is the story of 85 year-old Jiro Ono, considered by many to be the world’s greatest sushi chef. He is the proprietor of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a 10-seat, sushi-only restaurant inauspiciously located in a Tokyo subway station. Despite its humble appearances, it is the first restaurant of its kind to be awarded a prestigious 3 star Michelin review, and sushi lovers from around the globe make repeated pilgrimage, calling months in advance and shelling out top dollar for a coveted seat at Jiro’s sushi bar. For most of his life, Jiro has been mastering the art of making sushi, but even at his age he sees himself still striving for perfection, working from sunrise to well beyond sunset to taste every piece of fish; meticulously train his employees; and carefully mold and finesse the impeccable presentation of each sushi creation. At the heart of this story is Jiro’s relationship with his eldest son Yoshikazu, the worthy heir to Jiro’s legacy, who is unable to live up to his full potential in his father’s shadow. The feature film debut of director David Gelb, JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI is a thoughtful and elegant meditation on work, family, and the art of perfection, chronicling Jiro’s life as both an unparalleled success in the culinary world, and a loving yet complicated father.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi hits theaters March 9th, 2012.