Qing qian la mian cha

A wonderful mix of food, love, family in this quiet and touching drama. Excellent acting and fine direction that touches your heart. You rarely go wrong with Japanese films.

If you like slow pace, feelings and food - this is a movie for you.

This is like Crazy Rich Asians, minus the crazy rich, but a bit stretched out in time (see belelsene's review). A young chef leaves Japan for Singapore, location of his early life, searching for his maternal family, the secrets to his mother's notebook, and recipes to bring home. Along the way, he learns of the humble origins of the popular noodles, Singapore food, and the origin of his mother-in-law's distaste for his father.

This film offers a simple tale of a young man trying to form a bond with his late mother. When the film works, it is quiet, delicate, and sincere. That being said, there are times when the dialogue can seem a bit forced and contrived. The journey of the lead character is deeply enriched with wonderful food and culture. The film is beautifully shot and has moments that are deeply profound. T

This movie touched my heart. In a world of million dollar action movies, this brought me back to the complex, yet oh so important need for family. In this case, food was the conduit. And who doesn't feel even more emotion when food is involved. Relax, give yourself a treat, and succumb to a truly meaningful slice of life.