Jimami Tofu

Breathtaking film. Beautifully interwoven themes of homecoming, love lost, love found vs ambition. It's the sort of film you need to allow yourself to slowly creep into. But once you're in there - it's so warm and cosy. What I loved was it was never predictable and yet didn't feel the need to rush. No hype - just beautifully restrained story telling.

Cinematography was outstanding as was music, script and direction. Acting was also top notch! Made by SG company but seriously very International film! Apparently it's doing really well on China's Tencent platform.

So hard to put into words what this film made me feel. It started as a simple love story but grew into so much more tying in family, culture, history in such an effortless way. It's multilayered and deftly executed. I could see how many people might miss so much in this film. The great thing is the filmmakers never drew attention to themselves - there was no sense of ego with their style of storytelling. It was incredibly zen like the Japan they portray. Wonderful that they managed to create a world within Okinawa, Japan but in English. Not one person in the audience questioned it.

Music was huge part of this film too. Composed by one of the filmmakers and the lead actor. Beautifully interwoven tunes. A must must watch!

Watched this film in Singapore 3 times. Once at the Botanic gardens in a huge outdoor screening then twice in the cinemas. I have never been so transported into another time and place by a film. The atmosphere, cinematic visuals and music meld seamlessly but it is the story that truly resonates. It interweaves culture, history, family and love so effortlessly that it brings you on an epic journey. The acting is really simple but vulnerable like all the other elements of the film.

It is NOT an art film (you know those films that are lauded by film festivals but that no one wants to watch) but it is REALLY ARTISTIC. It is NOT a Hollywood film and I mean that in the best sense. It doesn't try to dazzle with effects or style over substance. This film is really all about great storytelling. It seems so simple but as you get absorbed into it you will start to reflect on so much of your life and relationships. When was the last time a film did that?

Huge congratulations to the filmmakers.

When I see and feel love oozing out of every frame, my critic's hat completely disappears and I am able to meet the movie halfway. Jimami Tofu is that movie for me this year.

I have heard some nice things about Jimami Tofu last year, but I made the mistake of watching another locally made foodie movie called Ramen Teh, which left a bad taste in my mouth and I thought one local foodie movie a year is enough. It was by pure chance that I discovered a single screening at the cinema on a Wednesday evening and my wifey was on leave. The stars were aligned and off we went.

One of the things I love when it comes to watching movies or going to concerts is when I get a chance to show my appreciation for the artistes' efforts face to face. Christian Lee (director) and Jason Chan (lead actor) were there manning a table selling t-shirts, soundtracks, tote bags and souvenir screenplays of their movie. I had a nice chat with them and they seemed the nicest dudes ever with a passion for filmmaking.

Prior before the movie began and I must say it was quite a good crowd, the filmmakers gave a short talk with regards to the genesis of the project. They were actually in Okinawa to shoot a travelogue documentary, but fell in love with everything Okinawan. One thing led to another and they decided a movie would best showcase the unique history, culture and cuisine of the land. The two of them then took on all the major tasks of filmmaking - directing, editing, producing, writing, acting, sound, cinematography and even composing the score for the movie. How's that for passion?

There is a scene in the movie of Yuki, the food critic, about to enter a restaurant and the owner lambast her for destroying his reputation by writing an atrocious food review of his old restaurant. I think herein lies one of the responsibilities of a movie critic: how do we draw the line between honesty and curry-flavouring? Can we be brutally honest without sacrificing our integrity? Compassion is the key, and it is also the key to so many things in life.

I can probably give you a wall of words on what the movie failed to do, like how it should have ended two scenes ago, how a sub-plot can be completely excised without sacrificing the movie, how some characters' motivations are not defined clearly and so on. However, deep down in my heart, I felt the movie erred on the filmmakers' efforts to do too much, by that I mean showcasing the languid lifestyle of the people and the humble cuisine of Okinawa. Their passion was contagious as I find myself being immersed in the beautiful land of Okinawa.

There is a beautiful scene late in the movie which detailed what the old chef did for a young couple on their first date and friends who were mourning at a funeral wake in the midst of a typhoon; that for me, was one of the strongest heartbeats of the movie and depicts the power of what good food can wield. That scene managed to make my wifey tear up. A few evenings ago, we saw Taiwan's number one tearjerker More Than Blue and it couldn't even conjure a single tear out of her. It goes to show how she can spot emotionally manipulative tricks from a mile away, and here the sincerity of that scene rings true. Her tears were earned.

Great films that feature food like The Lunchbox (2013) and Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011), treat food like metaphors to weave stories about the human condition, while Jimami Tofu uses food as a metaphor for familial love and bridging relationships. It may be an over-used metaphor, but the sincerity is palpable. Here, food is likened to a symphony with every element coming together at the right moment to bring forth an explosion of memories. And as in all good foodie movies, don't go in with an empty stomach.

On the night I watched this I was surrounded by sniffling at the end of the film. Everyone stayed for the credits. I think mostly because they were still recovering from the emotional impact. It's really uplifting (not depressing) and that's rare that a film can get people to cry in this way. It sneaks up on you. A very quiet film but so complex underneath. Poetic in every way. Visually beautiful. Music was so rich and moving in and of itself (I bought a CD and have been listening to it since). They don't write scores like this much anymore.

Brought the whole family the following week and I enjoyed it even more. Don't be mistaken. It seems at first to be a simplistic movie but the more you watch the more you're drawn into the world they've created. Very clever work but most of all a really heartfelt piece.