Portrait of legendary Tokyo sushi chef, 85-year-old Jiro Ono. “Torture to watch – if you are on an empty stomach… a paean to perfectionism and crafty bit of food porn.” — Hollywood Reporter
Torture to watch – if you are on an empty stomach... a paean to perfectionism and crafty bit of food porn.
Screened as part of NZIFF 2011
Jiro Dreams of Sushi 2011
Eighty-five-year-old sushi chef Jiro Ono is a legend in his field. His Sukiyabashi Jiro sushi bar in Tokyo’s Ginza subway station seats only ten, but it’s widely considered the best place for sushi in Japan. Customers book as much as a year ahead for a full meal costing upward of 30,000 yen ($460). Says restaurant critic Masuhiro Yamamoto, ‘Nobody has ever had a bad experience there.’ — BG
“An elderly man resembling a shell-less turtle deftly molds raw fish into a Mona Lisa of minimalist cuisine – given that we’re talking about Jiro Ono, Leonardo would be proud of the comparison. David Gelb’s documentary on the world’s greatest sushi chef not only traces Ono’s legacy and the fishmongers and food critics who strive to be worthy of his company. It utilizes a spare, elegant style that perfectly complements its subject’s monastic devotion to purity – and like the master himself, turns something simple into a work of art.” — David Fear, Time Out