Ever been healed by food?
With the entrance of the food, the helplessness, pain, and humiliation that had been stagnant in the heart were all destroyed by the chewing of the teeth, waiting to enter the stomach to be digested together. The emotionally broken gap was stitched up by some kind of physical food, and in a fleeting moment, people actually ushered in a sense of completeness. Whether it's a death row prisoner enjoying his last meal in a medieval prison cell, or a clerk who lingers at a roadside stall after working overtime in the middle of the night, the satisfaction brought by food seems to have traveled through time and space and has never changed.
Itami San's "Tampopo" tells the story of how to make the perfect bowl of ramen. It's hard for me to find words to fully describe how this movie feels because it's so rich. Dandelion transcends the typical genre, feeling like a light-hearted comedy most of the time, but at certain moments, it sees a certain life-like weight come on suddenly. Those connections between people, between people and food, were brought by the director at his fingertips, strung together all the flavors of life. Perhaps appreciating it is like eating a big meal with a satisfying, lingering aroma.
Single mother Dandelion runs a ramen shop by herself after her husband passed away. Improving her taste and craftsmanship has never been her primary choice. For her, the small shop is just a tool for survival, as long as she can live a normal life with her son, it is enough. It wasn't until a rainy night that the freight driver Hei Lang happened to enter the store to hide from the rain. The professional foodie pointed out the problem of ramen mercilessly, and then woke up Dandelion, thus starting a journey of learning.
The plot sounds like a kind of routine in martial arts films where small characters encounter masters and learn stunts, but Itami Thirteen did not deliberately exaggerate the utility of adventures, but more showed the struggle of ordinary people, emphasizing the important role of dedication. There are many popular snack bars in the film in reality, and it is inevitable that people will have such questions when eating: How can the store be so busy without being chaotic? Just a verbal "Boss, give me a...", different faces, different needs, why never get everyone's order and taste wrong?
"Dandelion" actually shows the power of seriousness. Serious people always have a unique charm. They are unwilling to follow through. No matter how small the matter at hand, they will regard it as their face and signboard. They would rather do more mistakes and face embarrassment than forgive themselves for not doing their best. The beauty of serious people comes from their love for life. They believe in the preciousness of life and limited time. They understand that what a person has to face in the end is themselves, so they cherish the opportunity to live and work. In the field of gourmet food, chefs who are attentive will pay attention to the expressions and reactions of diners when they eat, while qualified diners will eat the food cleanly to show their recognition of the chef's skills and efforts.
Compared with the blood and sunshine of the main line, several episodes in the film are more like a kaleidoscope in the world, subtly showing the various meanings constructed by small individuals because of their connection with food under the huge world. Interestingly, the process of enjoying delicious food is actually a process of being filled with things you love. The symbolic meaning of this form also implies that people’s unsatisfied desires may be resolved through food.
Adults have been in the society for a long time, and sometimes they start to envy children, they envy their freedom, they can shout out when they want something, and they can be satisfied quickly. But adults can't do it, and many needs can only be kept in their hearts and left to fend for themselves in a silent place. Appetite, a relatively easy-to-satisfy need, provides a child-like opportunity for indulgence when we particularly want to eat something. At this time, we finally don't have to continue to wrong ourselves, and say calmly: what I want to eat, I will eat it now. This is not only as simple as filling one's stomach, but also represents the ultimate desire of human beings, a pursuit of freedom.
At this time, a snack bar in "Dandelion" is your best choice.
Maybe you don't visit it often, but it's always ready and waiting for you to encounter certain emotions in your life. It can be small and poorly decorated, but it must provide a consistent taste. It knows what you need, not some kind of amazing taste, but to know that there is the certainty you are most familiar with, so that you don't have to worry about being happy and going back. Of course, it's best to be open until late, because the simple night on the way will not distract you, but will bring you a sense of security that blends in with the unfamiliar, escorting you here, so that you can feel refreshed after a full meal. Full on the road again.
In fact, each of us needs a snack bar like this, because after entering the store, we will find that many flavors of life are in this bowl of ramen.
PS: the movie is rated R and contains explicit sexual material.
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