My choice to write about this film definitely reveals a trend in my recent reviews. Sure, they’re all Japanese, but more importantly, these three works are examples of films/series that have honestly affected my life. For me, a great film isn’t necessarily one that I would give a 10/10 to on the traditional scale. The works I’ve been reviewing are hardly flawless, but I love them because they don’t need to be—technical imperfections, the occasional poor performance, or even an overuse of tired clichés—none of that matters so long as I can take a part of the film into my own reality, whether it be a tentative belief system from After Life, or an emotional scar from Crying out Love. Tampopo, however, gave me something even greater…it changed my life forever.
Itami’s film is bizarre and hilarious. Publicized as “the first Noodle Western,” the main story follows two truck drivers, Goro and his sidekick Gun (a young Ken Watanabe), who stop at ramen bar, only to be disappointed by the worst bowl of noodles they’ve ever had. Touched by the determination of Tampopo, the owner and single mother, Goro (an expert on roadside noodles) agrees to help her create the best bowl of ramen in Japan. Yet this is only one, small element of the movie—an ensemble cast brings countless vignettes that add even more satirical flavor to the main story, from a rich couple’s erotic, food-based foreplay to an old lady’s obsessive fruit-squeezing crimes.
The commentary on Japanese food culture is rich, but there’s still a lot of humor for those who aren’t familiar with the topic. However, the comedy is still fairly inconsistent, delivering a few awkward and just random moments. “Quirky” is definitely the best way to describe Tampopo. It’s a blend of Western and social satire, with a touch of romance, action, a sprinkle of French New Wave, and a free cooking lesson on the side.
Tampopo is one of those rare movies where half the time you’re not exactly sure what is going on, where you’re being led, or why certain things are happening; yet you couldn’t care less. It’s an insane ride, giving you so many different tastes that the end leaves your mouth watering. If this review is making you hungry, then I’m getting my main point across. You’ll never want ramen so bad in your entire life than after seeing this movie.
Which brings me to the reason I love Tampopo: it set me on a quest to find the perfect bowl of ramen. I didn’t search very far, but I finally feel like I found the place (at least it’s local). If you want the recipe for a perfect evening, then skip lunch, gather your best friends together, watch Tampopo, then head over to Little Tokyo in Los Angeles (I don’t care how long the flight is) and find a little ramenya with a yellow awning called Daikokuya.
Thanks to this film, I found my favorite place to get ramen in LA. I can’t think of a better example of a life-altering movie than that.
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