tenshi_ippikiookami

If you are here to watch a heartwarming story of an old man telling about his work, his life, and him preparing ramen and tsukemen for ever, look somewhere else. This is a sometimes very sad story of a man who seems to keep working because it was his life and his late wife's life and it is very important for him. There is little focus on the creation and the food and a lot about him keeping the ship going whatever happens (his leg problems, his hands' problems...) and his relationships with disciples and clients. It is interesting, and it shows a world (and a Japan) that you probably can't find anymore (well, the queuing for hours is probably still going on).

That doesn't mean that you shouldn't watch this, because, as said above, it is interesting. However, some of the decisions by the director (who doesn't seem to care much about Yamagishi's private life or at least it sometimes feels like that) are questionable.

The beginning, slow, introducing 'thousands' of characters, sets perfectly the mood; the use of music in the plot is great; the actors do a great job (even if I am not of a fan of the need for two Michael B. Jordans (even if he is a great actor); the action is well done.

Not all is perfect, though, as the characters behave erratically, suiting the necessities of the plot more than behaving coherently. The change of pace can also be jarring. And even if the movie is more than two hours long, you might feel more advantage could've been taken from the amazing set up. But with so great music, so good all the elements (direction, acting, photography...), you will probably not care. Ryan Coogler has done a very good movie.

Now, I knew "Yellow Door" was a documentary, centered on Korean cinema and with Bong Joon Ho, but I didn't know much else before starting to watch this movie. And I have to say that it is a very fulfilling experience to discover this group of Korean university students (back then, in the 90s) discovering art, cinema, and trying to be a part of something. It is an intelligent and delightful look to a love (movies/cinema) that brought many different people together and was the starting point for a very famous director.

There are too many people talking all the time, many of them (well, almost all but the actors and Bong Joon Ho) you will probably have never heard of before, and it is all seen through maybe too rose-tinted glasses, and sometimes their talk of Godard or similar (even if kept to a minimum) could feel a little pedantic, but this is a well worth watch (and not very long, as it is barely one hour twenty minutes). Give it a chance if you want to see how art, artists, dreams, communities are created and disappear.