The Chef and the Daruma is a Canadian documentary film, directed by Mads K. Baekkevold and released in 2024.Lauren Stallone, "Vancouver sushi chef who invented California roll reflects on career". CityNews, September 26, 2024. The film is a portrait of Hidekazu Tojo, a Japanese immigrant to Canada who became a prominent chef on the Vancouver restaurant scene and has been credited by some sources as the inventor of California roll,Pat Mullen, "The Chef & the Daruma Review: Change, One California Roll at a Time". Point of View, September 30, 2024. It blends both contemporary documentary footage and dramatic reenactments of scenes from Tojo's early life, with young Tojo performed by actor Gabriel Prevost-Takahashi.
The film premiered at the 2024 Vancouver International Film Festival,Gail Johnson, "Legendary Vancouver chef Hidekazu Tojo celebrated in new documentary playing at VIFF". Stir, September 25, 2024. where it was the winner of the Audience Award for the Insights program.Jamie Casemore, "In Brief: The Chef & the Daruma wins at VIFF Audience Awards". Playback, October 17, 2024.
The film proved so popular that VIFF had to add two additional screenings during the festival,Vicki Duong, "VIFF adds more screenings of Tojo documentary due to popular demand". The Georgia Straight, September 19, 2024. and seven post-festival screenings at the VIFF Centre through the rest of October.Lindsay William-Ross, "Watch: Special menu features dishes from storied life of Vancouver's legendary Chef Tojo". Vancouver Is Awesome, October 4, 2024. Tojo also introduced a special "The Chef and the Daruma" menu at his restaurant in conjunction with the film.
References
External links