The Ramen Girl
I really did not know what to expect
from this 2008 Film starring the Late Brittany Murphy, but as it
looked like a novel idea, and was set in Japan I thought why not give
it a go.
Even though a romantic rom-com, the
brunt of the film is about Brittany's character Abby.
Abby is a young girl who does not
really know what she wants to do in life, in the real world do we
have a choice?.
I think most people go with the flow
and what happens, happens.
After flying to Tokyo to be with her
boyfriend only to be left stranded by a said boyfriend when he
decides it's time to move on when he gets a job offer in Osaka, but
there's no place for Abby to tag along.
Feeling distraught the young girl who
has a boring desk job one night visits a local Ramen shop and ends up
pouring out her heart to the owners who have no idea what she's going
on about as they are Japanese speakers only.
After getting her fill of the warm
noodles, vegetables and meat the young girl leaves. Returning the
next day in a better state of mind and becomes obsessed about how
such a small little noodle business can bring so many people together
regardless of language.
Again she returns and sees that the
owners' wife Reiko has a foot injury and decides she will wait on the
tables to the bemusement of Reiko and her husband Maezumi the Ramen
chef.
In a flash Abby decides that her goal
shall be to become a Ramen chef and tries to convince Maezumi to
teach her the trade.
In a bid to get rid of this crazy girl
Maezumi tells her to go and come the next day at 5am, thinking she
won't turn up as it's only fours away and he'll be rid of her.
But next morning at 5am Abby is there
banging on the shop door, Maezumi gets up and opens the door half
asleep and points to a stack of pots and dishes that need scrubbing,
and goes back to bed again in hope that the crazy American girl will
just go away.
What makes this film work is the whole
language barrier, other than a few English speakers within the film
all the other cast speak only Japanese, and if like me you viewed
this on Amazon Prime video, there are no subtitles for the Japanese.
You only understand what Abby's saying
or the odd Japanese word if you're lucky to know any. Yes, there are
other English speakers but their roles are small and for the most
part, you're dealing with the relationship between Abby and Maezumi
for the most part who basically shout at each other and point at
objects to get the desired reaction.
Like anything in Japan, food is as
important as anywhere in the world, but presentation and how meals
are prepared are like a ritual in Japan. Ramen is a noodle-based soup
with vegetables, Scallions, and slices of meat all carefully prepared
and placed in a large bowl where it all floats in a specially made
broth-like soup. See your mouths watering now is it not?.
Abby just wants to find her vocation in
life and if being a Ramen chef is her goal then why not?.
From belittling her by getting her to
scrub the toilet and whatever else he can find her to clean Maezumi
basically hopes she will give up.
But something in Abby pushes forward in
trying to convince Maezumi to teach her the business.
She continues even when she prepares
her own broth and he just picks it up and trashes it down the sink.
The setting of the film is quaint in
its small streets of suburban Tokyo and the authentic casting of some
really talented Japanese actors and actresses gives the film a style
and presence to the proceedings.
Abby calls Maezumi by Sensei, teacher as we
all know, the word applies to all teachings and the journey Abby goes
on is one of learning a traditional art.
The film has its hidden story subplots,
more so if you are viewing without any English subtitles for the
Japanese language. You kind of follow it differently by viewing it
like this though.
You kind of feel the frustration of
Abby not understanding a word anybody says to her.
The film won't win any awards for
originality, though the basis for the story is unique.
Also, you can see what the endings
going to be like as these types of films often end on a high note,
but maybe not entirely as you imagined.
Brittany Murphy gives a stellar
performance here, she will make you laugh, make you frustrated and
feel sorry for her. As for her co-star the legendary Toshiyuki
Nishida he's brilliant as the grumpy Ramen Chef who just wants to be
left alone, though this is due to his own hardships and sadness.
The Ramen Girl is a fun rom-com with an
Asian flavour that simmers at first, then boils to perfection to its last Noodle.
Review by: Sertes Nake
Review Date: 03-10-2021
