This delightful 1985 “ramen western” will be followed by a panel discussion on food and appetites from scientific and culinary perspectives. Pre-show snacks will be provided by Ugly Duck Japanese Americana Street Food.
Juzo Itami’s TAMPOPO is the tale of an enigmatic band of ramen ronin who guide the widow of a noodle shop owner on her quest for the perfect recipe, The film serves up a savory broth of culinary adventure seasoned with offbeat comedy sketches and the erotic exploits of a gastronome gangster. Sweet, sexy, surreal, and mouthwatering, TAMPOPO remains one of the most delectable examples of food on film. This eccentric gem was lovingly restored by Janus Films.
Following the film will be a panel discussion with Dr. Pamela Runestad, Resident Assistant Professor of Anthropology at Creighton University, who regularly teaches TAMPOPO to illustrate Japanese food culture, gender, and class issues; Dr. James Blair, Director of the Center for Neurobehavioral Research at Boys Town National Research Hospital, whose work focuses on the neuroscience of emotion and aggression; and AJ Swanda, Lead Chef at Ugly Duck and graduate of Metropolitan Community College’s Culinary Arts Program. The panel will be moderated by Dr. Soonjo Hwang, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and self-described TAMPOPO fantatic.
