Céline Roustan
After swallowing a bunch of ambien, Timmy fixes himself a bowl of kimchi ramen thinking that it would be his final meal. However, when the Grim Reaper shows up, Timmy is surprised to find himself still alive and so the unlikely pair spends a night together bonding over life’s simplest pleasures. With Death & Ramen, writer/director Tiger Ji crafts a dark comedy that explores themes of mortality and mental health with sensitivity and humor.
While the main themes in Death & Ramen are quite universal, we were quite curious to learn where the inspiration for Ji’s short came from. With the writer/director confessing that his late grandfather’s outlook on life was the main source, he reveals that “his insistence on never taking life seriously allowed me to embrace mortality”, adding that “levity and joy became my way to transfigure grief”. Without this context, the premise of the film might be misleading for some, as it incorporates humor, but is never farcical. The comedy always remaining earnest and ultimately emotionally compelling.
Matt Jones (L) and Bobby Lee star in Death & Ramen
To create a contrast with the starkness of death, Ji introduced this quest for a bowl of kimchi ramen into his narrative, explaining that “as tough as it gets, all your pain can become eased in this single bowl, distilled into something warm and gorgeous”. There is a reason why it is called comfort food, but Ji deepens his narrative by also making this special dish Timmy’s ‘madeleine de Proust’, evoking special memories for this man. By following Timmy over that night, The Grim Reaper gets a brief glimpse into the human condition, witnessing him experiencing many different emotions and how they can be felt all at once.
Inherently, the film has a built-in end, allowing the narrative to unfold without having to manufacture additional stakes. Instead of relying on tension, the emotional climax is delivered through a final scene that depicts a liberation from an underlying and ever-present pain. Veteran actors Bobby Lee and Matt Jones have great chemistry as they guide the audience through the night, developing an unusual friendship. Known mostly for comedic roles, Lee gets the opportunity to showcase his dramatic chops, and he does not disappoint, perfectly nailing the tone of Ji’s screenplay, from the lighter moments to the darkest ones. His portrayal perfectly communicating his character’s pain and despair throughout the run-time of the film with impressive nuance. As Lee concludes the emotional journey of the film without any words, solely relying on facial expressions and body movements, he delivers the poignant climax so effectively.
Death & Ramen had its World Premiere at the 2023 edition of the Palm Springs ShortFest and went on to be selected at multiple festivals, including Nashville and Aesthetica, ahead of its online debut, which we are thrilled to host.