After watching the film, I'd like you to answer the following questions in two of the following bullet points:
- Did you find this film engaging? If so, what about it do you think makes it so engaging? If not, tell us what about the film made it hard for you to be engaged with it.
- This is the first documentary we've watched in class. Did you find that the documentary form helped you understand the Japanese culture in ways that a fiction film (e.g. Seven Samurai) could not? Explain. Why is it good to watch documentaries?
- What did you learn about Japanese culture by watching this film? You might write about what the film showed about father-son relationships or the idea of family honor (the father-son relationships and sense of family honor depicted in this film are very characteristic of the way things are in Japan).
over all i really did find this film engaging. it was a really simple film though so I don't really know why it was for the most part easy to watch and keep up with. I think the music, editing and shots had a lot to do with this. some parts were slow but not so much of it that it made it a drag to watch. I think that the fact that it is something different to us made it more engaging than where it would be less if it was something we were more familiar with.
ReplyDeleteI feel like this did help me to understand the Japanese a little more than a fiction film because it showed real things instead of what they portray themselves as. I feel like this film just really showed the culture. just seeing real peoples everyday lives showed more about the culture than a fiction film could ever show, in my opinion.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi was an amazing documentary. I was really engaged from start to finish, and I think I know why. A lot of the reason why I personally was engaged, and how I imagine other people could be engaged, is that it's a really awesome to hear the fact that some Asian dude makes good sushi for three hundred dollars a pop, you know, a fact you might read on the internet, say "wow", and be done with it, but it's absolutely amazing that a documentary can actually go in depth with the man, Jiro, and realize that it isn't just some guy who makes good sushi, but a man that has worked almost his whole life to achieve his dream, and has achieved and even surpassed his dream. The whole process and story behind this simple but world renowned food is quite interesting and amazing! Not to mention some of the most interesting family interaction I have ever seen in a film.
ReplyDeleteI also learned a little bit about Asian culture watching this documentary. It's cool learning about little tidbits of Japanese culture and always being amazed by them, but it's also quite fascinating to see that some of these differences and tendencies are actually quite non-chalant, and are part of their everyday routine. It's also quite awesome to see how similar we as a people are. For some reason, during the scene where Jiro goes to the town where he grew up and is telling stories with is old friends, and just seeing how similar they are to us really made me think deeply and sentimentally about just how close we are as a human race. Not many documentaries can make me think that philosophically.
Ashton Bowers,
ReplyDeleteI also found this film way more engaging then any other documentary i have seen, and am not too sure why but i think its mostly the music and cinematography that kept it interesting. Also i just really like sushi and the movie made me want some. I also found the people in the documentary interesting, rather then just saying his job was to make sushi and he was really good at it he explained his passion for it and what it took for him to get there.
what i learned from this documentary about the culture is how the family and their profession is important, how the son should learn from his father and respect him and then one day take his job, but still keep trying to improve what his father taught him and eventually teach his own son who should also try to improve.
I really like the point you made about how he really shows passion about it instead of just saying what his job was. i agree that it really helped make it more engaging along with the music and cinematography. i feel like you made a very good point (:
DeleteTo me this film was really engaging, especially in the documentary type of film. What made is to engaging was that it was about this man who was so into his job of making sushi his whole entire life. Not only that, he had the passion within him which got him this far. He was so dedicated in his job than anything else really. And yet he made one of the most expensive restaurants in Japan i believe. This man hated doing nothing but his job which was being with the people who worked for them and also making sushi for customers. I found it funny how people were a little intimated by him watching them eat their food. And how people get nervous whenever they came to sit down and eat. Also i found it interesting how Jiro can make something so simple, but yet so delicious based on customers reactions when they ate the food. This makes me want to go to the place and eat there one day just to try, but of course that involves a lot of money. Maybe someday i will get the chance to try out this legendary food.
ReplyDeleteWhat i think about documentaries is that it was made to help you understand a topic or maybe learn something. Although, fiction movies does make you learn about a thing or two about something based on a characters actions. However, i do think that documentaries are more focused on a subject like having interviews to help you what is going on in the everyday life. Basically documentaries go in detail on a subject to help you create a better understanding or maybe just a informational type of film. This is why i think it is good to watch documentaries just to be aware of something and learn things you haven't learned before. I personally enjoy watching documentaries because it tells a story without the typical films you would see at a movie theater. I encourage people to watch more documentaries in the future.
Once you decide on your occupation... you must immerse yourself in your work. You have to fall in love with your work. Never complain about your job. You must dedicate your life to mastering your skill. That's the secret of success... and is the key to being regarded honorably. - Jiro Ono
ReplyDeleteI just finished this movie on PBS website and I have to say, that being unable to eat seafood I was put off by this movie for so long. That was a grave mistake. I watched the preview for it first and was expecting some crazy Japanese comedic thing but within the first 5 minutes I rarely even noticed the sushi as the subject but more as the idea of a passion.
With the question on how you learned about the Japanese culture. I definitely noticed the father-son connection even when the father would be extremely tough on the sons. They even discussed the back story of Jiro's father for a moment. One thing I wish they could of included we're the mother of Jiro and Yoshikazu/ Takashi mother. But I also feel that there's a reason why they did not talk about them. Makes me wonder why though. I know relationships with mothers arent as revered but I personally feel that are always two sides to every man (woman as well).
This movie has actually help think more in-depth of a dilemma I've been having lately.