by Litchatte Reviewer Paul Ho
There are many unsavory films about food that are available online. They warn us about eating too much sugar, how we are polluting our beloved earth, the dangers of pesticides, the evils of fat, or how fast food is killing us slowly. The problem is, there are precious few that uplift and make us feel good about ourselves and the foods we live to eat.
I can think of three such documentaries offhand that have been both deeply inspirational and patently educational at the same time. I share these three with you as follows:
JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI:
In a small ten-seat restaurant on a bustling subway platform in Tokyo, Japan, 88-year-old Jiro’s endless quest for excellence in sushi-making has landed him three stars from the prestigious Michelin Guide. We watch the octogenarian master not only preparing some of the world’s finest (and most expensive) sushi, but we also see him selecting the fish from the marketplace, preparing the special flavored rice overnight, and schmoozing with the fawning customers.
The pervasive whiteness of this film and the rich classical music only add to Jiro’s inspiring lifelong saga of success. It is as much about the man’s dedication to an ancient culinary craft as it is about the food itself.
If you have ever tried over many years to perfect something in your own life, then this movie could be as meaningful to you as it was for me. (99% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, American director; Japanese language film with subtitles, 2011)
IN SEARCH OF ISRAELI CUISINE
Between the multicultural foods, hidden mountain restaurants, and diverse peoples of Israel, In Search of Israeli Cuisine is a delicious and instructive two hours that will compel you to run, not walk to the nearest deli.
In the beginning, God created two essential Jewish food groups. One is derived from the Ashkenazis of Eastern Europe, who bring Matzo ball soup, gefilte fish, and luchen kugel to the table. The other is from the Spanish/ Portuguese Sephardic, whose cuisine includes hummus, ground meats, pita bread, lemon, and olives.
Award-winning chef Michael Solomonov takes us through the history of the holy land as told through its food. He also tours the wine and olive regions and makes it a point to highlight the Arabian, Palestinian and Moroccan cuisines that have long been Israeli mainstays. I only wish the movie was in “taste-o-vision” so I could have satisfied my grumbling stomach as I did my hungry eyes.
(91% on Rotten Tomatoes; a tasty documentary in Hebrew, Arabic, and English with appropriate subtitles, 2016)
-THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM
I’m not one for hyperbole, but this is among the most inspiring documentaries I have ever seen in my life. Maybe the most inspiring.
A young tech couple buys a barren 200-acre wasteland near LA so their dog will have a place to run as they make plans to create an idyllic farm onsite. In no time at all, they realize that they have bitten off more than they can chew (so to speak). But fear not, help is on the way. Just as they are about to throw in the dishtowel, a wise old eco-mentor comes along to help them create a (sustainable) paradise on earth in only seven years. The magic is that we see this dream come true right before our eyes in the course of a two-hour film. It makes one realize that the global decline can be turned around with a little knowledge, some very hard work, and a lot of luck.
The operating principle here is bio-diversity. If you have enough different species intermingling, the predators become prey and the prey becomes predators and it all becomes harmonious by the end of the film. It’s a fascinating vision in theory, but how often do you see it play out in practice. This compelling documentary gives way to the idea that there is hope for the future of our species and for all the varied creatures of the earth. Hallelujah!
(91% on Rotten Tomatoes, The Biggest Little Farm could be one of the best real-life movies ever. Great for kids too! 2018)
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