Nobu examines culinary legend Nobuyuki Matsuhisa’s empire, offering an intimate portrait of a man who has redefined global gastronomy. Like Tyrnauer’s breakthrough film Valentino: The Last Emperor, this cinema verité documentary captures a master at the apex of his influence, poised between reflection and innovation. We shadow the peripatetic Nobu as he navigates the expansion of his culinary kingdom, a delicate dance of creativity and commerce performed alongside his business partners Robert De Niro and Meir Teper. Nobu has achieved the seemingly impossible: scaling a bespoke dining experience to global proportions while maintaining an uncompromising standard of excellence. From humble sushi chef to the embodiment of luxury hospitality, Nobu continues to push boundaries, setting new benchmarks in an industry he has fundamentally reshaped.
The film grants unprecedented access into Nobu’s world, revealing the alchemy and precision behind his signature dishes, and the inspirations behind his innovations that revolutionized tradition-bound Japanese cuisine. These culinary revelations are interwoven with Nobu’s tumultuous personal saga—a history of resilience in the face of staggering adversity. By age 30, Nobu’s life lay in ruins; yet from this nadir, he summoned the strength to rebuild, crafting a legacy that now spans over 50 restaurants and counting.
More than a culinary documentary, Nobu is a testament to the power of perseverance, a meditation on the price of perfection, and an exploration of how one man’s vision has reshaped an entire cuisine.
