Review of Tampopo (1985) by Sarfaraz A — 30 Sep 2012

Tampopo (タンポポ) directed by Juzo Itami. Starring Nobuko Miyamoto and Ken Watanabe.

A widow Tampopo is willing to be proper noodle-cook with the help of a trucker (Ken Watanabe) who himself criticized her lack of proficiency at noodle-making.

Film covers several other sub-plots, an elderly woman who squeezes breads, loafs at grocery shop, a dying mother who wakes up to make last meal after being emotionally-taunted by her husband to make meal for the family and dies instantly, an old man who impersonates himself as a professor and scams people at the restaurant, a woman who teaches food-eating-etiquette, bunch of elite businessmen accompanied by young amateur who is more than often physically jolted by senior, he orders food (to sheer amazement of the seniors) in a way that it humiliates seniors who are without the perspective knowledge about foods-choice. But the central character is that of Tampopo and bunch of eccentrics determined to bring her business to fame and popularity.

I have always loved watching movies surrounding subjects of 'foods'. Although my primary reservation about this movie should have got to be its duration, nonetheless I can take it as long as it's all about foods. Very dramatic, purposeful, and above all hilarious while dealing with few peculiar characters/scenes. This movie does take 'Noodles' seriously and it is perfect.