Jiro Dreams of Sushi (2011) - fliXposed... Documentaries

"I would see ideas in dreams. My mind was bursting with ideas. I would wake up in the middle of the night. In dreams, I would have visions of sushi." - Jiro Ono


'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' is a 2011 American documentary directed by David Gelb and edited by Brandon Driscoll-Luttringer.

The documentary centres on 85 year old Jiro Ono, world renowned as the worlds greatest sushi chef, and his sushi restaurant, Sukiyabashi Jiro, which is located at a subway station. The film also examines Jiro's relationship with his two sons, Takashi and Yoshikazu, both of whom are sushi chefs.

Jiro is passionate about sushi and even at age 85 has no plans to retire. He says "If I don't keep on working, my body will become worthless." Jiro has a strong belief in having passion for your field of work, and suggests the number success factor is repetition and perfection.

Did you know...

• Director David Gelb intended to make a documentary about sushi restaurants in general (called Planet Sushi), but after eating a Jiro's restaurant, decided Jiro's story along would make for interesting subject matter
• Most of the photography was filmed over the course of one month (January 2010), with ten months of editing

Awards and nominations...

• US Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Award nomination for Best Sound Editing (sound effects, foley, dialogue, ADR and music in a feature documentary)
• Online Film Critics Society Award nomination for Best Documentary
• Phoenix Film Critics Society Award nomination for Best Documentary
• Phoenix Film Critics Society Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film
• San Diego Film Critics Society Award nomination for Best Documentary

Closing remarks

Watching Jiro prepare sushi is fascinating. Jiro is a perfectionist who meticulously places each element on the dish delicately and beautifully. I felt like I was watching an artist painting a canvas, with Jiro's canvas being his plate, and sushi his paint. These beautiful images are accompanied by a melodious soundtrack, with much of the music composed by Philip Glass.

Despite the simplistic subject matter, Gelp does a superb job in centralising much of the narrative around Jiro's relationship with his two sons, and his relentless approach to perfection.

Jiro's inspirational words of wisdom are powerful and can be applied to anyone regardless if their career path. Although I personally am not a fan of sushi, I found this film to be inspiring and Jiro's creations mouthwatering. Overall, I enjoyed this film very much.

Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010) - fliXposed... Documentaries

'Cave of Forgotten Dreams: Humanity's Lost Masterpiece' is a 2010 history documentary film directed and narrated by Werner Herzog.

To provide some context, in December 1994, three explorers set off across the Ardeche River in France where they discovered a hidden cave, untouched by mankind for over thirty thousand years. The cave is now known as the Chauvet Cave. The walls of the cave are decorated in prehistoric cave paintings, and it's floor scattered with fossilised bones.

Werner Herzog received special exclusive permission from French officials to access and film the cave. the cave is forbidden to the general public. Filming guidelines were strict with the film crew not permitted to touch any part of the cave, or to step off the narrow two foot wide walkway.

Did you know...

• The cave is closed to the general public - Herzog received special permission from the French Minister of Culture to access and film the interior
• Warner Herzog was only allowed to bring 3 people into the cave with him - cinematographer Peter Zeitlinger, sound recordist Eric Spitzer-Marlyn and an assistant
• The film crew were required to wear special shoes and suits, which had not had contact with the outside world
• Due to near-toxic levels of carbon dioxide and radon, the crew were unable to stay in the cave for more than a few hours each day
• The 3D cameras were custom built for the production, and were assembled inside the cave
• The film were only able to use battery-powered equipment, and lights which did not distribute additional heat
• Werner Herzog is not a fan of 3D film, and chose to film the cave in 3D to enable the viewer to experience the contours of the cave walls - Herzog does not intend to use 3D again in his films

Awards and nominations

• Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award winner for Best Documentary
• Dallas Fort-Worth Film Critics Association Award winner for Best Documentary
• Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award winner for Best Documentary
• Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award winner for Best Documentary/Non-fiction Film
• New York Film Critics Circle Award winner for Best Non-fiction Film
• Online Film Critics Society Award winner for Best Documentary
• USA National Society of Film Critics Award winner for Best Non-fiction Film
• Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award winner for Best Documentary
• Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award winner for Best Documentary
• American Cinema Editors nomination for Best Edited Documentary
• Broadcast Film Critics Association Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature
• Chicago Film Critics Association Award nomination for Best Documentary
• Chlotrudis Award nomination for Best Cinematography (Peter Zeitlinger)
• London Critics Circle Film Award nomination for Documentary of the Year
• Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Award nomination for Best Sound Editing (Sound effects, foley, dialogue, ADR and music) in a Feature Documentary (Eric Spitzer)
• San Diago Film Critics Society Award nomination for Best Documetnary
• Satellite Award nomination for Best Motion Picture Documentary

Closing remarks

The documentary is beautifully filmed by Herzog, with effective use of sound, including a haunting musical score. There are also some moments, where there is no music, but the sound of a heart beating in the silence.

The film gives the film spectator a sense of actually being at the cave. I haven't seen the 3D version of the film, but I can only imagine how enhanced and realistic the experience would be in 3D. I found it fascinating to see the way in which nature protects and preserves itself, when untouched by man. Many of the cave paintings are self embalmed, looking freshly painted. After watching this film, you can't help but wonder what other hidden treasures are waiting to be discovered.

Elizabeth Taylor: An Intimate Portrait (1975) - Star of the month... Elizabeth Taylor

"Elizabeth Taylor: An Intimate Portrait" (aka: "Elizabeth Taylor: Hollywood's Child") is a 1975 documentary based on the life and career of Elizabeth Taylor.

Narrated and hosted by actor Peter Lawford, the documentary features clips and highlights from many of Elizabeth Taylor's classic films, as well as interview footage from those who knew her best... her mother, her co-stars, her friends.

The documentary features the following highlights:

• actor and friend Rock Hudson talking about the making of "Giant" (1956)
• Sarah Taylor (her mother) gives a very rare interview and talks about Elizabeth's childhood and how she first got started in film
• director Richard Brooks talks about the making of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" (1958), and the tragic death of Mike Todd
• footage of Elizabeth Taylor winning her Oscar for "Butterfield 8" (1960), the film she hated
• actor and friend Roddy McDowall talks about making "Lassie Come Home" (1943), "Cleopatra" (1963) and their life long friendship
• costume designer Helen Rose talks about the costumes she designed for Elizabeth Taylor
• producer Sam Marx talks about how he came to discover the child Elizabeth Taylor and cast her in "Lassie Come Home" (1943)
• Vincente Minnelli talks about directing Elizabeth Taylor in "Father of the Bride" (1950) and "The Sandpiper" (1965)

Closing remarks

I have seen quite a few documentaries on Elizabeth Taylor, and I must say this is the best I have seen. What I like most about this particular documentary is the way in which it treats it's subject with the respect she deserves. We are also treated to some candid and intimate interview moments with Elizabeth Taylor's inner circle of friends. The only disappointing thing about the documentary, is that it did not feature an interview with Elizabeth Taylor herself.

Cruise of the Zaca (1952) - Star birthday... Errol Flynn

Star Birthday - Errol Flynn 

Errol Flynn was born in Tasmania, Australia on 20 June 1909. In the early 1930s he emigrated to America and became of the greatest stars at Warner Bros. during the 1930s and 1940s. Flynn died on 14 October 1959 from a heart attack at the age of 50. 

He is best known for starring in swashbucklers, westerns and his frequent screen pairing with Olivia de Havilland. His most memorable film is The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938).

Flynn as Robin Hood

Recommended viewing

• Captain Blood (1935)
• The Charge of the Light Brigade (1936)
• The Prince and the Pauper (1937)
• The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
• The Dawn Patrol (1938)
• Dodge City (1939)
• The Private Lives of Elizabeth and Essex (1939)
• The Sea Hawk (1940)
• Santa Fe Trail (1940)
• Virginia City (1940)
• They Died With Their Boots On (1941)
• Dive Bomber (1941)
• Gentleman Jim (1942)
• Objective, Burma! (1945)
• San Antonio (1945)
• Adventures of Don Juan (1948)
• That Forsyte Woman (1949)
• Rocky Mountain (1950)

To celebrate Errol Flynn's birthday, I have chosen to blog a short documentary film "Cruise of the Zaca", which Flynn directed, narrated and starred in.

Cruise of the Zaca (1952)

'Cruise of the Zaca' is a short documentary film directed, narrated and featuring Errol Flynn. 

The film begins as Errol Flynn takes a group of marine scientists from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography of the University of California on a research expedition to the South Seas, aboard his schooner the Zaca.

The passengers include Dr Carl L. Hubbs, his wife Laura Hubbs, Errol's father Theodore Flynn (billed as Professor Thomson Flynn of Ireland) and Errol's former wife, Nora Eddington.

What I like about this film, is it is a rare opportunity to see Errol Flynn as the true adventurer and sea enthusiast.