Sûpâ no onna

Not sure how one reviewer could call this stale, ? , I thought it was great , it suppose to be a nice gentle tale of two people and the market that brought them together. What I really can't understand is why Tampopo is not one of the movies listed at the bottom as recommendation. I don't think the ones that are there really fit , this is a fun movie and interesting to see the market and the behind the scenes operation. Wish I could see another like it, I wonder if I should just follow the director and see what he has done. My fav scene is the chase thru the market. Liked the oddballs standing up against the senior market guys.

The long-term husband and wife partnership of Juzo Itami (director) and Nobuko Miyamoto (star) has produced some good to great works. The pair here stick to a formula Itami is clearly comfortable and, as always, does a creditable job of it.

The great Nobuko M reminds me of a Japanese version of Margaret Rutherford. Forcefully and energetically positive in whatever tasks she throws herself into. Here, her character Hanako is invited by a supermarket owner (Tsuga Masahiko, a frequent co-star) to give his shop a makeover, to resist being gobbled up by an aggressive new competitor. As always, there's a large collection of oddballs amongst both the goodies and the baddies. I liked best the wild-eyed owner of the big supermarket - no surprise with this guy's face and gravelly voice to find he's a comedian.

There are many things to praise about this film. It's a straight down the line feelgood film with, despite the emnity and seriousness of the subject in real life, little real violence (though some comic violence) and the assurance of a happy end. With a little less violence and some of the light adult stuff trimmed out, this film could pretty comfortably been made by Disney, even pre-1970s.

The passage of the warm relationship of the two leads is heartwarming. There is a scene where they may or may not get into bed together. One of the characters lifts a shirt and the other comments that they are both well-past their use-by dates. Of course the interplay between the various weird characters is a treasure.

If ever you wondered about the sort of hi-jinks that go on behind the scenes of your local supermarket, this film may well confirm your worst fears ! The only aspect of the story I found hard to take, and this is only a small point, is that the owner could be so ignorant of some of these things.

Warmly recommended.

This is now my favorite movie, it's, another movie made by the same director starring the same woman s "Tampopo" - which i also loved

My favorite part is when Goro Judo tossed the meat thief - brilliant- hilarious and it made me cheer even though i was by myself, i still did, i don't care

apparently Goro was on every team in college, i just finished watching it and I'm still laughing

the carchase was great too, i was thrilled , the car chase was more exciting than any car chase I've sen in action movies in recent memory.

the 'love' scene was hilarious and refreshing too, and somehow - while not immediately apparent Hanoko's energy and personality is sexy - well, maybe just to me

10 out of 10

I really enjoyed this one. It was a lot like Tampopo, the Noodle Western in taking a mundane career and turning it into a Zen-like success. The widow Hanako helps her childhood friend Goro turn his unpleasant store into a bastion of freshness and cleanliness. Hanako's acumen turns the store into real competition for the chain grocery nearby.

Hanako's enthusiasm is never-ending and contagious. Definitely a fun watch.

What a delightful and bonkers feel good film! I think if this film were done in America, it would be extremely mediocre, but I think Japanese director Juzo Itami knows when to be subtle and when to be bonkers.