FOOD IS LIFE in this mouthwatering “ramen western” about a misfit gang of ramen ronin who guide a noodle-shop owner in her quest for the perfect recipe. Comedy master Jûzô Itami whips kung fu, noir, tearjerkers, Chaplinesque silent antics, and, of course, the spaghetti western into a rich, full-bodied broth and serves it up hot as the wacky, surreal adventures of Tampopo (Itami’s wife Nobuko Miyamoto) are seasoned with the sexy exploits of a gastronome gangster (PERFECT DAYS star Kōji Yakusho). A tasty meditation on human hunger; savory and sweet; nourishing for the body and soul. Umami cinema.