Most of (Last) Week: Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Alexa: I’m a pretty big foodie and an avid sushi lover, so I would honestly be entertained by artful shots of sushi alone. But even if Michelin three-star cuisine is not your cup of tea, you’ll find plenty to love in “Jiro Dreams of Sushi.” The renowned chef at the center of the documentary is an endearing character, and his quest for perfection is fascinating. Jiro embodies the beauty of doing something really, really well. His meticulous attention to detail, dedication to the process and respect for the ingredients and the vendors that supply them prove impeccable cuisine doesn’t have to have a ton of bells and whistles. His sushi is simply rice and fish, but it’s the most expertly crafted medley of those ingredients, each component its own work of art. His restaurant has just 10 seats and it’s located in a subway station because the food speaks for itself. Director David Gelb captures Jiro the man and Jiro the master chef beautifully. And Jiro’s sons are equally compelling – they have their own exceptional skills and work ethic, but even as adults they live in their father’s shadow. This documentary proves that for someone who doesn’t think he’ll ever achieve perfection, Jiro has come pretty darn close, both in his life’s work and his family legacy.

Joel: There’s something captivating about watching a person at work who is a genuine master of their craft, whatever that craft may be. However you feel about sushi, or food documentaries in general, it’s a genuine treat to get to see Jiro at work in this movie. Jiro is the owner and head chef of the sushi restaurant Sukiyabashi Jiro, one of the few restaurants in the world to be awarded three Michelin, and certainly the most unique restaurant to receive the honor. The movie is a fascinating look at Jiro and his single minded pursuit of trying to achieve perfection in his chosen profession. Even well into his eighties, Jiro is still working every day, focused on his sushi. He’s a fascinating character as the movie unfolds around him, exploring his thoughts and ideas, not only on sushi, but on work ethic, on perfection, on expertise, and on the ways of the world in general.
Despite its short runtime, Jiro Dreams of Sushi manages to take the time to explore several different aspects on the world of sushi. We get to see how the marketplace operates, and are introduced to a different expert for every single ingredient of the sushi. The movie also takes time to explore the environmental problems of overfishing and how that has started to negatively impact sushi over the years. One of the most interesting parts of the movie though, it the profiles of the Jiro’s two sons. The younger, who left to start a sushi restaurant to mirror his father’s and the older who is still working at the main restaurant under his father with the expectation that he will take over it one day. The documentary has a fantastic handle on its subject matter as it explores the thoughts and emotions of trying to work and succeed in a business where your father is considered the greatest in the world. It would be easy to go overboard and deliver this aspect of the story in a heavy handed manner, but like the rest of the movie, this aspect is unfolds in a way that is simple, understated, and yet feels elegantly done. It’s a surprisingly emotional movie, and one is able to expertly say a lot about a lot of different subjects in a way that feels warm and evenhanded.

Chris: Learning about somebody dedicating their entire life to mastering one craft is intoxicating, it blurs the line between occupation and art-form. Jiro's philosophy goes against pretty much all advice and guidance I've ever been given. Growing up, I was told that it's good and safe to be well-rounded and be able to do a wide variety of things whereas Jiro seemed like anything but making sushi is simply a waste of his time, he even encouraged his two sons to not go to college. I'll admit, I don't like seafood and I never really got the appeal of sushi but personal feelings about sushi seem irrelevant to this documentary because it's focused on the astounding dedication of Jiro to his craft.

Jason: Japanese culture has fascinated me since I was introduced to it in my early teens. The dedication to tradition is one of the foundational pieces that we don’t get as much here in America. Jiro Ono is a living embodiment of so many Japanese ideals. He has spent literally his entire life working toward making himself the best in the world. And in that, he has succeeded.

There are many layers to this documentary. On one hand, there is the story of Jiro and his magical sushi. Then there are his sons who have this huge shadow looming over their future. Their father has trained them both to be masters and yet they still must work three times as hard to measure up to him. Under that is  the story of their suppliers and the message that places like this small sushi restaurant are completely dependent on environmentalism and the preservation of natural resources. And then, surrounding it all, is the presentation of the Japanese mindset of hard work, no matter what.

This whole documentary was captivating. The soundtrack was lovely and the direction was sharp and concise. Much like the gourmet food presented within, nothing felt out of place. And the visuals made me very hungry. I know where I’m going when I finally win the lottery!