Cinephile foodies, rejoice: The Tokyo Gohan Film Festival kicks off Oct. 6 and runs through Oct. 21. Now in its third year — and with a spinoff event in Osaka held Oct. 6-14 — it's a showcase of films all related to food. Not just one, lonesome movie such as "Dinner Rush" (though that's included in the program, hooray!), but a collection of 15 works from Japan and abroad in which food appears as a character, a pivotal prop, or a proud centerpiece. There will also be live music and, of course, plenty to eat.
Some of the films aren't about food at all (like "Marie Antoinette"), but seen from this festival angle, you start to notice the gastronomical details. A sliver of roasted pheasant here. A plate of macaroons there. Never mind the Manolo Blahnik shoes, what did Antoinette choose for her breakfast dish?
In Japan, gohan (meaning, rice and/or meals) and films have traditionally made great marriages. The biggie, of course, is Juzo Itami's "Tampopo" (1985), which is said to have revolutionized Japanese ramen.