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COME BACK ANYTIME

Wavy line that looks like a ramen noodle

The story of the master who created a community in Tokyo, one bowl of ramen at a time

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One of the sweetest and most enjoyable films of the year. It will restore your faith in humanity.

 — Graeme Tuckett  Stuff.co.nz

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Probably the best movie I've ever seen on the topic of the food culture of Japan.

 — Adam Platt  Chief restaurant critic, New York Magazine

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Culinary documentary filmmaking at its finest. The Jiro Dreams of Sushi of ramen movies.  

 — Sarah Ward  Concrete Playground

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Perfect viewing for anyone who enjoys the convivial delights of shows like Midnight Diner

 — Chris Harms  Australian International Documentary Conference

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While this cozy, heartwarming doc is about the artistry of an excellent bowl of soup, it is just as much about the power of community and connection.

 — Madeline Lines  POV Magazine

A selection of laurels for film festivals the ramen documentary "Come Back Anytime" played at, including Hotdocs (Official Selection 2021), DOC NYC (Official selection 2021), the Melbourne International Film Festival, and several others.

ABOUT THE FILM

Self-taught ramen master Masamoto Ueda and his wife Kazuko have run their Tokyo ramen shop, Bizentei for more than forty years. Together with their customers, they have created a welcoming place of community. On the weekends, they venture together across the Japanese countryside, harvesting pears, bamboo shoots, and wild mountain yams. An intimate portrait of Japan’s culture of food, community, and work, COME BACK ANYTIME features gorgeous scenery, mouth-watering dishes, and a delightful cast of regular customers. It’s a heartwarming reminder of life’s simplest pleasures: a delicious meal, relaxed conversations with friends, and a special place to call one’s own.

81 minutes  |  Japanese  |  Color and B&W 

Locations: Japan’s Chiba, Niigata, Tochigi, and Tokyo Prefectures

THE FILMMAKERS

JOHN DASCHBACH

Director-Cinematographer-Editor

 

John is a Tokyo-based American filmmaker who fell in love with film at the Dartmouth College Film Society while growing up in Hanover, NH. After studying literature in college, he dove into film editing while studying with legendary editor, Ralph Rosenblum at Columbia University. After embracing the digital revolution of the late 90s, he’s been making independent films, and editing others’, ever since. COME BACK ANYTIME is his second feature, first documentary, and first cinematography credit.

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