I am a fan of Juzo Itami's films but his first time directing is the most challenging to watch. Several scenes that have nothing to do with the main story are sexual or violent in nature and distracting. It would be a great film if it were 30 minutes shorter, without what he no doubt felt were necessary sex and action to keep viewers interested. The main story is beautifully told. If you can overlook the oddness of the disjointed scenes, it's an insightful film and a deep look into Japanese food culture.
