X
- 2012
- PG
- Magnolia Pictures
- 1 h 21 m
- 2012
- PG
- Magnolia Pictures
- 1 h 21 m
Summary Jiro Dreams of Sushi is the story of 85 year-old Jiro Ono, considered by many to be the world’s greatest sushi chef. He is the proprietor of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a 10-seat, sushi-only restaurant inauspiciously located in a Tokyo subway station. Despite its humble appearances, it is the first restaurant of its kind to be awarded a prestigiou...
- 2012
- PG
- Magnolia Pictures
- 1 h 21 m
- 2012
- PG
- Magnolia Pictures
- 1 h 21 m
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
77
7.8
Where to Watch
Summary Jiro Dreams of Sushi is the story of 85 year-old Jiro Ono, considered by many to be the world’s greatest sushi chef. He is the proprietor of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a 10-seat, sushi-only restaurant inauspiciously located in a Tokyo subway station. Despite its humble appearances, it is the first restaurant of its kind to be awarded a prestigiou...
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 27 Critic Reviews
77
93% Positive
25 Reviews
25 Reviews
7% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 27 Critic Reviews
77
93% Positive
25 Reviews
25 Reviews
7% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
David Gelb's thoughtful and wonderful documentary, Jiro Dreams of Sushi, explores the dedication of this humble, bespectacled man, and the Zen-like focus he has for his work - or, as many would claim, for his art.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 59 User Ratings
7.8
85% Positive
50 Ratings
50 Ratings
12% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
3% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 59 User Ratings
7.8
85% Positive
50 Ratings
50 Ratings
12% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
3% Negative
2 Ratings
2 Ratings
Somewhere in a Tokyo street, there is a sushi restaurant with ten seats. And at this restaurant, a very old
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According to Jiro Ono, the modest star of Jiro Dreams of Sushi, a great sushi chef must be borderline obsessed or just plain obsessed with his craft to succeed. Clearly filmmaker David Gelb follows the same principals as Jiro Dreams of Sushi is heart warming, informative cinema that demands attention for its keen eye, its views on family, loyalty and devotion and its unrelenting look at a man who has worked almost every day of his life and regrets none of it. The film tells the story of Jiro and his passion for Sushi, something that has brought him from nothing to having a three star Michellin restaurant and a family whose devotion to this strange yet beautiful craft rivals his own, especially his son Yoshikazu. Unlike any food documentary you have seen, Jiro Dreams of Sushi doesn't tell a story of how Jiro came to be so knowledgeable in sushi, in fact the documentary only briefly speaks of Jiro's past. The film tells the story from the point of view of Gelb, a fly on the wall but one intent on taking in every little morsel of information. Gelb however is uninterested in the man Jiro was but the one his is today, 85 years old at the time of filming, Jiro is a modern marvel, a gem of a long forgotten time where devotion wasn't a vice, where hard work and imagination meant more than technology and blind luck. A film for our time, Jiro and his son are extraordinary people who are worth knowing existed, not only to inspire you but to scare you. Gelb frames this lesson in perfection with subtlety making for a relaxed yet involving viewing experience. The film packs in so much into its run time that it may feel overstuffed and at times a little preachy but overall I left this cinematic meal very satisfied yet with a hankering for more.
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Treating his seafood substantially better than Oldboy, Jiro is a miracle of perfectionism married to expertise. The same can said for Gelb's loving documentary.
This is a portrait of tunnel vision. Jiro exists to make sushi. Sushi exists to be made by Jiro.
The real star of the movie is the delectable sushi itself. Viewers will be tempted to hop the next flight to Tokyo, but probably will have to settle for a Japanese eatery closer to home.
Gelb might flit around a bit too much, but his appealing documentary always comes back to its subject's determination (sometimes overbearing) to leave the most meaningful possible legacy to his family and his craft.
Despite foodie-baiting close-ups of nigiri sushi brushed with soy sauce, and montages of skillful food prep, the film falls short as a satisfying exploration of craft. Like many other such portraits, it wastes valuable time declaring its subject's excellence that could be spent fleshing out demonstrations, explanations, context.
Peace of Art!
Jiro is a live monument!! like the Parthenon, the Great Wall or the Taj Mahal! The words are poor to describe this man. Wise, smart, **** directing could be a little better, more deep. You 'll see it and see it again and again.
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It's a beautiful film - the visuals, the music, and the very subtle, quiet, gentle way in which the story is told work in delicious harmony. I'm not even a sushi eater, but I left the movie really needing to try it. The lifetime of Jiro's and his sons' commitment to improving their craft as the ends, not the means to an end (such as wealth or fame) is impressive. It's almost as if all those years of preparation and commitment are serving that single reaction from the consumer - that umami. If only everyone had the same level of dedication. Sure, there's a tremendous amount of personal sacrifice necessary to achieve greatness in this way - and Jiro admits that his family life suffered over the years. But it's refreshing to see someone so dedicated to excellence in every element of his craft.
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Jiro Dreams of Sushi is, of course, about more than Jiro and sushi. It is about work, dedication, mastery, family, and (changing) Japan. There is much one can get out of this simple little film. However, as others have stated, the material feels stretched out (more appropriate for a one-hour special). Jiro tells of many things but does not really tell a story. That said, I would recommend it to the hard workers out there that could use a bit of inspiration and a sense that dedication does pay off.
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An interesting premise, but the film quickly exhausts the subject matter. One aspect of the film that is completely glazed over is the credibility of those claiming Jiro's sushi is so great. The interviewees are clearly biased and even intimidated by Jiro. I would have liked to have seen Jiro's reputation enforced first (by blind taste tests or other good science) before the documentary started lauding his techniques. The way the way the critics talk about Jiro's sushi is eerily reminiscent of how wine tasters talk about wine and they have been shown to be easily tricked by labels, presentation and expectations.
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Production Company
Preferred Content,
Sundial Pictures
Release Date Mar 9, 2012
Duration 1 h 21 m
Rating PG
Genres
Awards
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
• 2 Nominations
Denver Film Critics Society
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Detroit Film Critics Society Awards
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
