Movie Review: Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Many consider the finest Sushi Restaurant in the world, indeed the first to earn three out of three Michelin Stars, is Sukiyabashi Jiro in Tokyo. It's an assuming location in the basement of a building near a subway stop. But you must reserve at least a month in advance, and they don't take reservations any longer than that. Recently a wonderful documentary was made about this place and it's famous master Sushi Chef, Jiro: "Jiro Dreams of Sushi."



This documentary explores several themes: sushi, vocation, family, art, and the very essence of creativity as the soul of our humanity. Well worth watching. One subtle theme that deserves a few words, however, is love. Love is evident in the film in very subtle ways. Jiro is the sort of father who believes in tough love and admits being very hard on his sons, who hardly knew him when they were young because he worked so hard. So you you to look around the edges of his toughness to discover the great love and affection he has for his two sons and his restaurant crew. The highest compliment that he can pay of them is to say "He is ready." Ready to run the restaurant. Ready to make sushi. Ready to be alive.

Now I've got to try making sushi again--which is so very much harder than it looks. But the effort to master these techniques, which is the effort of a lifetime, is part of what makes it so beautiful.

-t