Worth: $17.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Intro:
...showcases so much more than just a fish market famous for tuna auctions; it truly is an example of human excellence.
Pride ran deep in the veins of the staff who managed Japan’s Tsukiji fish market. So much so, that if the staff could have bottled and brewed their diligence, they wouldn’t need to sell fish to earn a living. Their expertise and penchant for detail speak volumes to a working culture that celebrates hard work, communication, and perfection.
In documentary Tsukiji Wonderland, the inner wheeling and dealing of the world’s most famous fish market are explored with a deep admiration directed towards the attraction’s rich work culture.
Director Shôtarô Endô captures the magnetism only found in the Tsukiji fish market. Each cold morning brings with it a sense of promise amidst uncertainty. It is industrial, yet clean; organised, yet busy. The energetic market only sits still when Endô utilises slow-mo to highlight the fast-moving intensity of operations.
In between interviews with the beast’s operational staff – the wholesalers who navigate the day-to-day and chefs who benefit from their proficiency – Endô posits the power of a respectful working culture with the market’s high-quality output. A vision Endô lovingly showcases through close-ups of gorgeously constructed food that shimmers with a glistening, undeniably Japanese gloss.
The film doesn’t condescend (okay, maybe just a little), nor attack the western work ethic; instead, it contrasts ideologies to highlight how much there is to learn from other cultures, particularly those founded on respect and tradition.
Tsukiji Wonderland showcases so much more than just a fish market famous for tuna auctions; it truly is an example of human excellence.
