Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011)

85-year-old Jiri Ono runs a tiny sushi restaurant in a Tokyo subway station with only 10 seats, but he is considered the best sushi chef in the world. And that’s not some people in the movie saying so. He’s got three Michelin stars to prove that fact. Those 10 seats are in high demand, so you have to book at least a month in advance and you can expect to pay at least 30.000 yen (243 pounds/ 312 euro / 381 dollar) for the sushi you eat there. This documentary looks into the world of the best sushi and sushi chef and the perfection he strives for each and every day.

It’s amazing to know that Jiri Ono has been in the business for 75 years as he started working at an early age. He’s still striving for perfection and doesn’t think he has achieved it yet. The documentary shows he makes sure he has the same routine every day and when he talks about his job it’s clear that he’s passionate. Of course he doesn’t run his restaurant by his own and has a dedicated staff who all have to do a lot of work to make the perfect food. This means that octopus is massaged for 45 minutes to make sure it is nice and soft. It can take years before someone is allowed to make eggs. His sons also work with him and as it doesn’t seem like Jiro is retiring soon they will keep learning until he passes.

This to me was a very fascinating documentary. I love sushi and seeing how a master makes it was special. It’s been shot well too, making you almost want to lick the screen to taste every beautiful piece of sushi that appears on-screen. I could control myself however! This movie looks at what it takes for one man to build a reputation for himself, getting the best rice and fresh fish to create masterpieces. It’s a portrait that’s worth watching.

Score: 9