'The Solitary Gourmet' Whets the Appetite at Busan Film Festival

The uninitiated might be surprised to learn that tickets to a movie about a middle-aged Japanese man who simply enjoys eating were among the hardest to find at Asia's biggest film festival. The Solitary Gourmet made its world premiere at the 29th Busan International Film Festival on October 3. It played to a packed house in this southern South Korean city. 

Another screening the next day also sold out within minutes, thanks in no small part to the legions of fans around the world whose hearts had already been captured by the long-running TV series that inspired the film.

A Surprising Fan Favorite

For those still wondering what the fuss is all about, the TV version of The Solitary Gourmet follows the daily trials and travails of Goro Inogashira. Neatly dressed in a smart salaryman's suit, he goes about his business and, most importantly, feeds his hunger at various eating spots across the nation.

So, really, The Solitary Gourmet is all about food. But it's also about the man himself, played by Yutaka Matsushige, who allows the character's stoic facade to break delightfully as he savors each bite. His voiceovers pay homage not only to the food in front of him but also to the traditions that have brought it to the plate.

Much to the delight of fans in Busan, Matsushige, who is also the film's director and screenwriter, was present for its premiere and press meetings. He shared with both groups his thoughts on why he believed the TV series had become so popular. The actor also said that he hoped the movie would enjoy the same success when released in Japan and elsewhere early in 2025. 

"When this all began, it was just about a simple old guy eating meals," Matsushige explained during his round-table session with the media. "It's not like a documentary. The guy [protagonist] in the TV series, with his stomach empty, just goes to a restaurant and really enjoys his meal. Nothing really special happens, but it's kind of peaceful, and I think that's what attracted many viewers. Maybe that's a universal feeling — when you go to a restaurant and just eat real, delicious food. That's part of life's drama."

Matsushige Takes on Directing

The TV series Solitary Gourmet was created in part to celebrate TV Tokyo's 60th anniversary. There was also a need to feed an audience that hadn't had an official full-length TV series to enjoy since 2021. 

The film allowed Matsushige to step behind the camera for the first time. His 32-year career dates back to his film debut in the Kiyoshi Kurosawa-directed slasher, The Guard from Underground.

Fittingly, Kurosawa was also on hand in Busan to receive the festival's Asian Filmmaker of the Year award. The pair met on the red carpet on opening night.

"I feel like he is my teacher, and I was very honored to meet him here, director-to-director. I always had the aspiration to become a movie director, but being a filmmaker is much more difficult than I imagined," said Matsushige. 

"But it is also much more fun and interesting — even writing the screenplay. As an actor in the TV drama series, I just needed to show up where I was told to. As a director, I had to think a lot, and there were many challenges, but there was so much joy in it."

He continued, "I mean, receiving and answering these kinds of questions is also fun for me. I'm 51 years old, and I don't think I have many years left in my career. But even at this age, I was able to take on this challenge and try something new. That was truly fantastic."

The filmmaker says making a full-length feature allowed his team time to develop more of a narrative arc. That's the main difference between the TV series and the movie. 

Freedom in Solitude

On the big screen, we follow protagonist Inogashira on a quest to make a famed soup as a favor to an ailing acquaintance. This journey takes our hero as far as France and a remote South Korean island in search of rare ingredients. Along the way, he falls into a series of varied — and at times hilarious — adventures. Matsushige, as always, exudes effortless charm in the lead role. And just like in the TV series, the meals he's treated to always look delicious. 

The filmmaker has also surrounded himself with some of Asia's most well-known faces, including Joe Odagiri and Yuki Uchida. One of the questions he most enjoyed answering at BIFF was about the show's influence and success on domestic channels across the region, as well as its pick-up by international streaming giant Netflix.

It was suggested to Matsushige that Solitary Gourmet was helping to change cultural norms, especially in a region where eating in a group is more common than eating alone. There was clear pride in his response.

"I was told that because of our series, eating alone has become more common," said Matsushige. "I think that was a surprise. Because [Inogashira] eats alone, he is able to observe, and when he visits a restaurant, he has a world of his own. He feels a sense of excitement, and he has many monologues about it. So, he doesn't feel alone or lonely. It's freedom in eating, and I'm glad I could contribute to a change in culture."

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Author: Mathew Scott