In Tiger Ji’s short film, Death and Ramen, a ramen chef, Timmy (Bobby Lee), decides to end it all and down a fist full of antidepressants. Soon, the dark figure of Death (Matt Jones) stands over Timmy’s lifeless body and carries him to his final destination.
Unfortunately, Timmy manages to survive the botched suicide, and a perplexed Death is not sure what to do about it. Finally, Timmy convinces the confused Grim Reaper to go to his Ramen shop for one last bowl of noodles with the promise that it will be divine.
“…Timmy manages to survive the botched suicide, and a perplexed Death is not sure what to do about it.”
I’d be lying if I told you I hadn’t seen my fair share of short films about death. What stands out with Tiger Ji’s Death and Ramen are the comedic tone from Lee and Jones’ performances and the heartfelt dramatic story from Ji. While not a full-blown comedy or an overly serious drama, Ji perfectly blends the two disparate genres together to tell a well-balanced story…which is no easy task.
The report between Bobby Lee and Matt Jones is incredible, and the two should do a few more of these. Lee is a firecracker waiting to explode into a pile of teddy bears, while Jones is laid-back and soulful as the Harbinger of Death. Are you going to bust out laughing? No. But you will appreciate their take on those final steps into the afterlife.
Death and Ramen will screen at the 2023 Palm Springs International ShortFest.
