The Ramen Girl (2008)

In honor of the late Brittany Murphy, or more specifically because I only just heard of it yesterday and was entranced by the theme, I watched small time production "The Ramen Girl" and couldn't help but be entranced. I'm sure you're all familiar with The Ramen Ronin, the legendary tale of a ronin in search of the perfect ramen. At the core of this film is a similar story of the hidden depths within the nourishing broth and noodles.

Murphy plays Abby, an American woman who followed her boyfriend to Tokyo but is left distraught when he dumps her. Trapped in a job she hates in a country she knows little about where they speak a language she doesn't understand, she's seduced by the homely feel of the nearby noodle bar and finds salvation in a bowl of traditional ramen. At that moment, everything crystallizes for the up till now wishy-washy Abby as she realizes her destiny in life - to learn how to cook the perfect bowl of ramen. Offering herself as a student to the grouchy, tyrannical owner of the shop, Maezuki, she embarks on a journey of the soul that will change her life forever...

Conclusion after the jump.