Writer: Elaine Ewe

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Director David Gelb's debut feature-length documentary, "Jiro Dreams Of Sushi", is a visually-striking look into the life of one man named Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old Japanese who is the proprietor of Sukiyabashi Jiro, a Michelin Guide 3-star sushi restaurant in Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. Considered to be the world's greatest sushi chef, his routine life is a paradox in itself - everyday, Jiro works tirelessly in his world renowned restaurant in order to pursue his lifelong quest to create the perfect piece of sushi, which is clearly unthinkable for most people, such as his son Yoshikazu, who faces the pressures of stepping into his father's shoes and taking over the legendary restaurant, but makes for good material for a documentary film.

Contrary to most documentaries, Gelb's documentary is not filmed cinema verite style. It is neither a history of sushi nor a lesson on the merits or dimerits of sushi. Instead, Gelb explores the origins of the sushi master, primarily through a Japanese food critic as narrator in a non-chronological order using breathtaking cinematography and orchestra music. We are shown the life of Jiro himself, how he came to be, what he does on a daily basis, the secrets behind his sushi, and his relationship with his two sons and assistants.

Clocking at an hour and 21 minutes, Gelb's film never feels exhaustive. Watching Jiro work is an art in itself, and as the food critic remarks, it is akin to a maestro conducting an orchestra, which also explains the orchestra music playing in the background as motif. It is cinematically adventurous, where every scene can be randomly paused and the shot will still be a great one and Gelb's use of trains to indicate the film's transitions into different acts. He successfully blends the music with beautiful shots of sushi, Yoshikazu cycling through the streets and the sushi-making process. There is also a mixture of intelligent overview and intimate insights into the man - Jiro as a character is a force to be reckoned with as he spouts principles like "I tell my youngest son that he has no home anymore, now that he has opened his own restaurant. I want him to learn that failure is not an option. Parents who tell their children that they can come home if they fail only breeds failures."

What is most remarkable about the documentary is there clear presence of a defining story, complete with a introduction, middle, climax, ending and a message. For the first of the film, Jiro Ono is seen as a humble man whose persona belies the critical acclaim that he has received. Once we are introduced the man himself, we see that he has the attributes of a great chef, is not completely crushed by his poor upbringing and even enduring beatings from his boss before he owned his own restaurant; he is passionate and happy at what he does. Meanwhile, awed as we are by Jiro, we can emphasise with his two sons, Yoshikazu and Takashi. The pressure they felt from having a father has been recognised by the Japanese government as a living national treasure for his contributions to Japanese cuisine, is overwhelming, but like their father, they are not easily cowed, characteristics which Gelb slowly reveals, and we cannot help but feel a stab of triumph.

In conclusion, the film is an extremely interesting insight into the life of one man, proving that sushi-making is an art form in its own right. A must-see for any sushi aficionado and just about anyone who craves a insight into the 3-star Michelin award-winning restaurant, "Jiro Dreams Of Sushi" is a valuable addition to the extensive list of noteworthy documentaries out there.

Cinema Online, 29 July 2012