The Critically Acclaimed Drama About Family Values, Professional Ambition and Raw Fish EAST SIDE SUSHI On DVD and Digital May 3, 2016 by Sony Pictures and Highly Recommended by Whom You Know Our Coverage Sponsored by Fresh Origins
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When we’re not reviewing a restaurant, we’re reviewing a MOVIE about a restaurant! Thank you to everyone in the culinary industry for giving us such a great background to comment on Sony’s latest and greatest, emphasis on GREATEST, East Side Sushi, a phenomenal film that you all must see. We love it when films are well-written, intelligent and executed to perfection like this one is.
“Silly tv shows do not make a sushi chef” said by the restaurant owner in this film made us erupt with laughter. This sounds like someone who in 2009 told us social media didn’t matter. Media has come a long way in the past few years…
East Side Sushi may be about both the Mexican and the Japanese cultures, but it is more about a great story happening in America. No matter what your own culture is, it is a given human need to eat. But why eat when you can dine? And when you dine, you ought to do it right. But that’s another column. The premise of East Side Sushi centers on another one of our favorite topics: the American Dream. Protagonist Juana (say her name: wanna; like we wanna find a great Manhattan sushi restaurant after this movie), a single mother who lives with her daughter and father, evolves into a Mexican samurai warrior of the kitchen in California. (Note from the editor: California restaurant owners, we are establishing a wait list of restaurants to review so email Peachy please if you are a winner to know about.)
The plot evolution is beautiful. The pure determination and desire to win is what we look for in real life every day as we chronicle people’s dreams coming true on whomyouknow.com. From the dreaded 4am alarm to the absolutely horrific gunpoint scene, it is clear that Juana has challenges in life. However, when you see the girl slice it is clear she also is in possession of some serious knife skills, even in the early days of the fruit cart. We were getting scared for her fingers.
One serendipitous day, Juana notices a “Help Wanted” sign and carpe-diemed it. Undaunted about working her way up, Juana embraces the Japanese culture and learns chopsticks and devotedly studies her restaurant’s menu at night. We want every restaurant worker we encounter to be like Juana.
From a television perspective, which we believe also extends to the internet, reaching many people via media can be quite a wonderful thing, and wait until you see how Juana uses television! From a fashion perspective, Juana we want to take that scrunchie out of your hair it is very 1990’s. The bun you wear at Osaka is much better.
Mr. Yoshida, the restaurant’s owner, is quite the tough nut to crack and his relationship with Juana is central to the quality of the story. We won’t give it away. You need to know this is the best thing we've seen since Stealing Cars, and we really loved that one.
East Side Sushi is Highly Recommended by Whom You Know!
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Family values and professional ambition collide in the critically acclaimed drama EAST SIDE SUSHI, on DVD and Digital May 3, 2016. In his directorial debut, Anthony Lucero serves up a delectable fusion of heart and humor in the underdog story of a Latina single mother determined to become a sushi chef despite being the “wrong” race and gender. Featuring a breakout performance from newcomer Diana Elizabeth Torres (Inherent Vice) and co-starring Yutaka Takeuchi (TV’s “True Blood”), this sweet and savory festival favorite from Samuel Goldwyn Films arrives on DVD and Digital with tasty bonus features, including the making-of featurette “Behind the Sushi.”
Synopsis: Single mom Juana can slice and dice anything with great speed and precision. After working at a fruit-vending cart for years, she decides to take a job at a local Japanese restaurant. Intrigued by the food, she learns to make a multitude of sushi on her own. Eventually she attempts to become a sushi chef, but is unable to because she is the ‘wrong’ race and gender. Against all odds, she embarks on a journey of self-discovery, determined to not let anyone stop her from achieving her dream.
EAST SIDE SUSHI was written and directed by Anthony Lucero. It was produced by Julie Rubio (Too Perfect, Six Sex Scenes and a Murder) with executive producer Anthony Lucero.
It has a run time of approximately 100 minutes and is rated PG.
DVD Bonus Material:
· Behind the Sushi – Making of the film along with on-set interviews
· Behind the Music – Development of the original score for the film
· Plus 2 Deleted Scenes!
Visit Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on the Web at www.SonyPictures.com
ABOUT SONY PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT
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ABOUT SAMUEL GOLDWYN FILMS
Samuel Goldwyn Films is a major, independently owned and operated motion-picture company that develops, produces and distributes innovative feature films and documentaries. The company is dedicated to working with both world-renowned and emerging writers/filmmakers and committed to filmed entertainment that offers original voices in uniquely told stories. For more information, visit http://www.samuelgoldwynfilms.com/
