The cinematography and sound effects of the film are done so well that one shouldn’t watch this on an empty stomach, as the close-up shots of the dishes would cause one to salivate and become even hungrier.
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Based on the novel "Kirin no Shita wo Motsu Otoko" by Keiichi Tanaka, the last recipe is about a highly talented chef who possesses the ability to recreate any dish from his memory. Mitsuru Sasaki, played by Arashi boyband member Kazunari Ninomiya, grew up in an orphanage, estranged from others and he only has one close friend, Ken Yanagisawa (Go Ayano). He is also a perfectionist, and his volatile temperament led to the closure of his own restaurant, landing him in debt. To return his debt, he takes on final meal requests for the dying as they pay exorbitant amounts. Yang (Yoshi Oida), is his final customer in the film who hires him to recreate a long-lost recipe from 1930s Manchuria, created by Chef Naotaro Yamagata (Hidetoshi Nishijima). As Misturu embarks on his journey, he discovers the story of a chef whom he resonates within their dedication to creating the perfect dish.
Largely set in Manchuria in the 1930s, the film sets to provide an alternative narrative to the Japanese in Manchuria. The film switches between the two timelines seamlessly. There is 1930s Manchuria in which the origin of the recipe is revealed and Present-day Japan where Mitsuru watches history unravel in front of his eyes. The film is emotionally charged as it intertwines history, politics, food and how it shapes the relationships around us. The film also makes it clear that the decisions we choose to make in times of adversity show who we really are. As the film progresses, we see a deeper, more emotional side of Mitsuru as the journey to find the last recipe becomes a journey of his self-growth as a chef.
The cinematography and sound effects of the film are done so well that one shouldn’t watch this on an empty stomach, as the close-up shots of the dishes would cause one to salivate and become even hungrier. The soundtrack complements the film well, and a realistic soundscape is created, such that the audience can imagine themselves to be in the kitchen along with the characters as well.
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