Jiro Dreams of Sushi
The director of the movie David Gelb made it about the life of the best sushi master, who strives for perfection in his work. Despite being a documentary movie about a one chief's life, on one hand, Jiro Dreams of Sushi gives a reflection on cultural and ecological situation in Japan on other, such as workaholism and overfishing. To begin with, this review considers few editing features in the movie, such as slow-motion, fast-motion scenes and music editing. They might appear trivial at first sight, nevertheless work well for their purposes. The first one, slow-motion, works well in increasing the depth of the scene that a viewer sees. For example, most of the cooking scenes are shown in slow-motion effects, which helps us to observe and feel how chiefs are engaged by the process of sushi preparation and how important the process is by itself. The next editing feature is a fast-motion scene. Probably used to show a large amount of work that chiefs do every day. Lastly, music editing had a definite impact on the overall perception of the film. An arrangement of different classical compositions as an accompaniment for the scenes of sushi preparation creates a real feeling of something transcendental is going on. It starts to make a deeper sense from the moment when in the movie person like The Food Writer compares the cooking and food itself to the creation of music. The editing is skillfully used in the movie as the tool that enhances the perception of the importance of sushi making processes. The revelation of Jiro's personality is the narrative of the movie itself. Therefore, David Gelb used people that surround Jiro as the main narrative tool of his movie. The past of Jiro is revealed by him and his sons. One of the few things that we know about it, is that he left his home, when he was 9 years old, and started to work to become shokunin - the master of one thing. Starting from his sons and students and ending with the rice dealer, the director shows how much these people respect him for his dedication and self-discipline. Sometimes, visitors of Jiro's restaurant comprise another storytelling tool that works in terms of revealing what Jiro's restaurant is and what its features are. David Gelb did a great job of constructing a story about Jiro from the viewpoint of others. Through Jiro himself, the director reveals Japanese culture. He shows how it is important for Japanese people, like Jiro, to fully dedicate themselves to the work of their life and the fact that money is not in priority. For example, you can become a student of the master chief for free, but you should be ready for 10 full years of dedicated work. Furthermore, it was shown that linear succession in Japanese culture takes its place in the example of Jiro's son Yoshikazu. During the movie, the question of the succession was raised multiple times. Therefore, it can be traced that the beginning of the movie, where David Gelb focuses on Jiro, has a gradual shift toward his son at the end, symbolizing who will continue Jiro's work when he will leave the restaurant. Another socio-cultural element that has its presentment in the movie is respectful in high degree relations between Jiro's family and his salesmen of seafood and rice, and how much important for both sides to sustain these relations. Besides, it was shown that the chief is also very dedicated to the Japanese culture in the scenes where he visited monuments for his parents, even though he did not like them, and had a visit to a Buddhist monastery. These and other examples of representation of Japanese culture are shown through the movie from the perspective of Jiro and other people in the movie. Last but not at least, raised concerns of overfishing is another topic for discussion that the director revealed from the words of Yoshikazu. Due to the increased consumption of sushi in Japan over the last decades, catches of young tuna increased, which gradually leads to a decrease in the fish population. Son of the master chief reflects on this problem with worry about future generations. "Business should be balanced", he said. Jiro Dreams of Sushi is an accurately made the documentary movie that does not catch stars from the sky but works well in terms of narration and creating the right perception on the audience. Trivial but at the same time perfectly fit video and music editing elements easily involve the viewer in what is shown on the screen. This review considered two narrative tools in the movie. The narration created by the people associated with Jiro, like his family and friends. The second one is the outer layer of the first: the reflection of Japanese culture through Jiro himself. Values, customs, and concerns of Japanese people are well represented in terms of one of the famous cultural units of this country - sushi-making. Therefore, this review highly recommends this movie for those people who have some degree of interest in this culture.
The director of the movie David Gelb made it about the life of the best sushi master, who strives for perfection in his work. Despite being a documentary movie about a one chief's life, on one hand, Jiro Dreams of Sushi gives a reflection on cultural and ecological situation in Japan on other, such as workaholism and overfishing. To begin with, this review considers few editing features in the movie, such as slow-motion, fast-motion scenes and music editing. They might appear trivial at first sight, nevertheless work well for their purposes. The first one, slow-motion, works well in increasing the depth of the scene that a viewer sees. For example, most of the cooking scenes are shown in slow-motion effects, which helps us to observe and feel how chiefs are engaged by the process of sushi preparation and how important the process is by itself. The next editing feature is a fast-motion scene. Probably used to show a large amount of work that chiefs do every day. Lastly, music editing had a definite impact on the overall perception of the film. An arrangement of different classical compositions as an accompaniment for the scenes of sushi preparation creates a real feeling of something transcendental is going on. It starts to make a deeper sense from the moment when in the movie person like The Food Writer compares the cooking and food itself to the creation of music. The editing is skillfully used in the movie as the tool that enhances the perception of the importance of sushi making processes. The revelation of Jiro's personality is the narrative of the movie itself. Therefore, David Gelb used people that surround Jiro as the main narrative tool of his movie. The past of Jiro is revealed by him and his sons. One of the few things that we know about it, is that he left his home, when he was 9 years old, and started to work to become shokunin - the master of one thing. Starting from his sons and students and ending with the rice dealer, the director shows how much these people respect him for his dedication and self-discipline. Sometimes, visitors of Jiro's restaurant comprise another storytelling tool that works in terms of revealing what Jiro's restaurant is and what its features are. David Gelb did a great job of constructing a story about Jiro from the viewpoint of others. Through Jiro himself, the director reveals Japanese culture. He shows how it is important for Japanese people, like Jiro, to fully dedicate themselves to the work of their life and the fact that money is not in priority. For example, you can become a student of the master chief for free, but you should be ready for 10 full years of dedicated work. Furthermore, it was shown that linear succession in Japanese culture takes its place in the example of Jiro's son Yoshikazu. During the movie, the question of the succession was raised multiple times. Therefore, it can be traced that the beginning of the movie, where David Gelb focuses on Jiro, has a gradual shift toward his son at the end, symbolizing who will continue Jiro's work when he will leave the restaurant. Another socio-cultural element that has its presentment in the movie is respectful in high degree relations between Jiro's family and his salesmen of seafood and rice, and how much important for both sides to sustain these relations. Besides, it was shown that the chief is also very dedicated to the Japanese culture in the scenes where he visited monuments for his parents, even though he did not like them, and had a visit to a Buddhist monastery. These and other examples of representation of Japanese culture are shown through the movie from the perspective of Jiro and other people in the movie. Last but not at least, raised concerns of overfishing is another topic for discussion that the director revealed from the words of Yoshikazu. Due to the increased consumption of sushi in Japan over the last decades, catches of young tuna increased, which gradually leads to a decrease in the fish population. Son of the master chief reflects on this problem with worry about future generations. "Business should be balanced", he said. Jiro Dreams of Sushi is an accurately made the documentary movie that does not catch stars from the sky but works well in terms of narration and creating the right perception on the audience. Trivial but at the same time perfectly fit video and music editing elements easily involve the viewer in what is shown on the screen. This review considered two narrative tools in the movie. The narration created by the people associated with Jiro, like his family and friends. The second one is the outer layer of the first: the reflection of Japanese culture through Jiro himself. Values, customs, and concerns of Japanese people are well represented in terms of one of the famous cultural units of this country - sushi-making. Therefore, this review highly recommends this movie for those people who have some degree of interest in this culture.