Lámen Shop

This movie, while not bad, was a real disappointment. It is quite slow and disengaged. It leaned too heavily on nostalgia and melancholy, without a trace of humor to leaven things. The lead actor was handsome but not at all charismatic. He relied very heavily at looking moody and hurt. His other emotions were never convincing, like a time when he loses his temper and has an angry fit.

At least the secondary leads -- Uncle from now, Mom from the past, the potential love interest -- were much more interesting and perked up the movie as much as they could.

I began watching this to take up time recovering from minor illnes. But gradually came to realise I n was watching something special.

The movie examines the misery brought on others through meaness and attitudes brought on by wartime outcomes.

I am not explaining the underlying themes very well. I need to digest this movie intellectually. Watch it. I hope it moves you like it did, me. D

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.

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 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.