Juzo Itami
Tampopo / Dandelion
Cast:
Tsutomu Yamazaki - Goro
Nobuko Miyamoto - Tampopo
Ken Watanabe - Gun
Kôji Yakusho - Man (Yakuza) in White Suit
Rikiya Yasuoka - Pisken
Produced by:
Seigo Hosogoe
Juzo Itami
Yasushi Tamaoki
Music by:
Kunihiko Murai
Japan 1985
Tampopo is a widow noodle chef who has her own raamen (Japanese noodle) shop, Lai Lai's noodles. Everyday she is making mediocre noodlesoup. Until a lonely trucker Goro comes with his assistent Gun. Together they will teach Tampopo how to make best out of her noodles and eventually refurnish the shop to be nothing like seen before.
The movie is a fantastic mix of humour and Japanese ethics and spirit. There is a lot of character development. Tampopo learning twists and turns to be a best noodle chef around. Goro facing his own sad family history. Itami critisizes some modern Japanese lifestyle but does it with outmost sincerity.
His style and characters are unique. Goro is a man who's own mother and father treated him bad. His wife and kids left him too. He is in many ways an adventurer, similar to Indiana Jones or Luke Skywalker. A western- like hero in a Japanese world.
In this movie food works as a symbol for everything in life. A lonely film noir criminal who likes to mix sex and food. Cooking as a form of self development and discipline for Tampopo. Life and death in one meal. A westernization of Japan. A newborn child sucking his mother's milk.
The movie resembles a spaghetti western, it has it's heroes which all have their shadows. There are a lot of hidden symbols. Itami's movie shows beauty of life and teaches us that one must embrance the change in our lives, whether it's the painfull or desired one.
A man, rushing from work to his home, seeing his wife on her deathbed. He makes a final request to her, "Please cook for us". And she manages to rise from her bed, almost passing out. And whips up simple meal. And when she sees her family eating, praising her food, a smile of delight comes to her face. Then she dies. Father cries to his children: "This is her last meal she ever cooked! Eat when it's still warm!" This scene felt somehow ever so personal for Itami, as if it's his own life. Experiencing life and death in one meal.
Juzo Itami was said to be one of the most Japanese movie directors around which he without a doubt, was. He is genuinely proud of Japanese habits. One should slurp his noodels loudly to show appreciation to the chef. And before eating the pork, one should apologize the pig by saying "I will see you soon".
Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai) does fantastic job as a lonely hero who is haunted by his memories from the past. Nobuko Miyamoto is great as lovely Tampopo.
I recommend this movie for everyone. This is one of the rare movies which I without a hesitation gave 10 points in Internet Movie Database. A brilliant and enjoyable film that has everything. One of the most beautiful and most funniest films I've ever seen.
See also: Tampopo at IMDB.
