1985 was a helluva year on the Eastern hemisphere, huh? You had the founding of Studio Ghibli, Kurosawa's bright and brilliant war epic RAN, Japanese city pop at its peak, and this succulent raw egg of a film. Meanwhile, in the West, you had the birth of yours truly, back when my diet consisted of apple sauce, mother's milk, and not much else.

After lucking into the day off, I couldn't pass up an opportunity to revisit this absolute pearl. My introduction came from Jeremy Marder's Good Taste Tastes Good series at Music Box Theatre in August 2022, and TAMPOPO immediately hit me like a good right hook in a series practically brimming with stunners.

This excels equally as a ramen-noodle western, food porn, ROCKY homage, meta-commentary on filmgoing, and an examination of social norms as various social classes interact with food and fine dining. It's a master class in everything it sets out to accomplish. One can only sit quietly, contemplating its perfection, cackling at its comedic elements while never extending that laughter beyond what's reasonable.

And what do you do next before you even reach your final destination? Why, you order ramen. It is the one way to true happiness.

Venue: Gene Siskel Film Center
Showtime: 9 AM
Transportation: Bicycle
Format: 4K
Series: Rise & Shine