udon movie
Ok, so it’s not a ramen movie, like the classic Tampopo, but it’s about noodles. (If you’re a ramen fan, and you haven’t seen Tampopo yet, go rent it. Right now! I’ll wait…)

Udon, directed by Katsuyuki Motohiro, director of such movies as Bayside Shakedown and Summer Time Machine Blues, is “A dramedy about the relationship between an aspiring comic and his stubborn noodlemaker father.” Oh, and there’s udon involved. Lots and lots of udon. While the plot is mostly predictable, the acting is decent to great. Unlike Tampopo, which splits off into a lot of sub-plots and vignettes, Udon’s plot is linear. However, the movie can shift gears abruptly and frequently, going from touching drama to irreverent wackiness and back again in a heartbeat: Hong Kong comedy fans will feel right at home. The movie is beautifully filmed and deeply respectful to the subject of udon. If you get hungry looking at food magazines, you’d better eat before you watch this.

The movie calls udon “the soul food” of Japan. That’s an interesting thought, and I’m not sure I agree with it, but the movie has plenty of soul. Highly recommended for all noodle fans, or just fans of food movies. Buy/rent/watch it!

Click on to see some shots from the movie

udon movie
Udon on a stick! What a great idea!
udon movie
The most gorgeous egg on noodles I’ve ever seen.
udon movie
Nothing like eating a bowl of udon outside with nice weather.
udon movie
A lot of scenes from the movie look like they’re right out of a food magazine.
udon movie
Hand-made udon.
udon movie
Um…yeah, this is one of those “irreverent wackiness” scenes.
udon movie
The hills are alive…
udon movie
An udon festival!! Someone should organize a ramen festival!

2 thoughts on “udon…the movie”

  1. haha i’ve been eating udon like mad for the better part of the past year as a result of this dang movie. weeknights when i get home from work, i make sanuki-style udon almost without fail. explains my slowness in posting instant ramen reviews! at least it’s healthy hehe…

  2. that movie made me totally crave udon…but are there any good udon places in so cal where you could eat outside and have a nice mountain view? haha

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