Writing goals: don't spend too much time on the summary; focus on analysis
"Jiro Dreams of Sushi," a documentary directed by David Gelb, profiles Jiro Ono, an 85-year-old sushi chef who, despite his old age, is considered one of the most talented sushi chefs in the entire world. His restaurant, Sukiyabashi Jiro, has been rated three stars by Michelin Guide, a series of guidebooks published by Michelin annually. This documentary follows the life of Jiro Ono and contemplates the origin of his restaurant's success and popularity. Jiro himself believes that his hard work is the reason for his success: he and his workers claim that practice and repetition brings much improvement. His–and his restaurant's–story is a story of simplicity, discipline, and rigor. In fact, Jiro's two sons, Yoshikazu and Takashi, started working for their father as soon as they finished high school, even though both had hoped to attend college. Apprentices are said to wait many years before they can even touch a food that seems as simple as an egg; one scene of the documentary shows an apprentice recounting a time when he tried making an egg over 250 times until he was told that he finally made a good one. It was a while before Jiro called the man "shokunin," a Japanese word meaning "craftsman" or "artisan." Even though this surely took a lot of the man's time, he was ecstatic when he was praised by his boss. "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" is a film for those who have a dream or goal they want to attain, because it's story reminds them that with lots of hard work and discipline, they can achieve anything.
Jiro's, his sons', and his apprentices' stories all have one thing in common: they are all about their individual determination to achieve perfection. This documentary's purpose is to illustrate the importance of these traits. The filmmakers did much to recreate the simplicity of Jiro's life: there was no background narration in the film, and whatever music was playing was always very light and fitting for each scene. Overall, the film's tone was very natural and sincere. Pacing and framing also contributed much to the tone: everything was very genuine but also very refined, just like Jiro's lifestyle. These devices help the filmmakers achieve their purpose because they echo the entire message of the film that was delivered by Jiro himself: simplicity and hard work always pay off in the end. Without any narration or music, "Jiro Dreams of Sushi" tells a simple story.
"Jiro Dreams of Sushi" is told from the point of view of an outsider and is filled with interviews of co-workers, fish sellers, and old friends. This way, the viewer is able to make his or her own observations about Jiro and his work ethic while simultaneously getting stories and opinions from those who know him personally. When one first looks at Jiro, one simply sees an elderly man and may assume that he is retired. However, once the viewer watches the film and hears about Jiro through the eyes of Yoshikazu or Takashi or a renowned food critic, he or she sees him as more than an 85-year-old man: an 85-year-old man who dedicated 75 years of his life doing what he loves to do, hoping to pass it on to others around him.
"Jiro Dreams of Sushi" is available on Netflix
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