REVIEWS
"As the Cheers theme goes, sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name. The ramen shop pictured in Come Back Anytime is such a place to its beloved group of regulars. 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… (It) recreates a welcome atmosphere of warmth and ambiance after an extremely isolating year."
"Like the broth at the heart of each of those bowls, the doc is deceptively simple — only when you dig in do you realize it’s actually refined and complex, filled with all sorts of unexpected and delightful ingredients that, together, create a magical and totally satisfying experience."
Moviepie 8/8
"An absolutely lovely and charming film... One may think of the terrific 2011 documentary Jiro Dreams of Sushi as comparison, but Daschbach paints a different portrait with his subject than director David Gelb did with his. By expanding the scope, we see a more well-rounded, though almost universally positive, look at someone who seemingly never stops refining and bettering his craft."
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Michael Ward Seattle Film Critics Society 4 stars
"This is a film about people, community and how our relationship to food and its preparation underpins everything that makes us a society… One of the sweetest and most enjoyable films of the year.”
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Stuff.co.nz 5 stars
"Culinary documentary filmmaking at its finest, examining a beloved type of dish, one talented man who has made it his life's work, and the many other lives — and tastebuds — touched along the way."
Concrete Playground "Ten Exceptional Films You Can Stream This Week"
“Come Back Anytime is about savouring the time that we have, and about the community that savours with you when the time you have made for yourself is a product of passion, love, and play.
Movies For Reel 4.5/5
“Though the meals are indeed mouth-watering, they’re not Daschbach’s focus; he’s more interested in the community that Ueda has built with his little restaurant."
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NOW Magazine 4/5
“The early section of the film, which focuses mostly on the food, will whet the audience's appetite, but the story gets a lot more engrossing when we leave the kitchen… This film acts as a heartfelt tribute to this fascinating spot, and it's well worth savouring.”
Exclaim! Magazine 8/10
“Like its title suggests, Come Back Anytime is about how food is a repeating invitation to share life and its pleasures and sorrows. This is a gentle film that will make your mouth water with its cinematography. It’s not about social issues or grand stories of accomplishment. It’s simply a portrait of the ways that food can define the person that cooks it and the person that eats it and unite the two in something that would not be possible without the food in the first place.”
3 Brothers Film 8/10
"A warm and intimate look at a year in the life of Bizentei, mixing sensuous footage of the many delicious meals with the warm and cosy camaraderie that exists between Ueda and his customers."
Broadsheet Melbourne "Five Feel-Good Films to See at MIFF 2021"
"It’s as warm and satisfying as a bowl of broth, and perfect viewing for anyone who enjoys the convivial delights of shows like Midnight Diner."
Australian International Documentary Conference "Hot tips for your MIFF documentary viewing"
"Through observing Ueda over the course of one year and interviewing both Ueda and his patrons, Daschbach develops a picture of a fascinating man, his legendary food, and the enormous effect he has had on his customers – and they upon him."
Stay tuned for more reviews about the ramen documentary, COME BACK ANYTIME.