Timmy is a ramen chef. One night, he swallows a bunch of Ambien and then fixes himself a bowl of noodles as a final meal. The Grim Reaper shows up to collect him, but Timmy, against all odds, is still alive. Timmy can't go on to the afterlife, though, unless he's had his favorite meal of kimchi ramen. The Grim Reaper is intrigued, and the unlikely pair spend a night together, bonding over life's simplest pleasures -- and exploring how joy and sadness are often intertwined when it comes to the human condition. Directed and written by Tiger Ji, this extraordinary comedy short takes on weighty themes of mental health, mortality and the search for happiness. The ideas are complex and full of portent, but the film handles them with a deft, even cheeky irreverent wit and imagination, making for a unique odyssey exploring what it means to be human, how mortality shapes how we live and how we find meaning in what often feels like the drudgery of being alive. Well-written and deftly directed, the storytelling straddles a fine line between sincerity and levity, taking Timmy's pain seriously while creating an almost fantastical world around him, especially when the Grim Reaper appears. In many ways, the film's sensibility finds energy in startling contrasts, starting with its considerable stylistic chops: its moody, slightly unreal cinematography creates a sense of Timmy's limbo, while ironic flourishes of musical score emphasize a certain humor, especially as Timmy's journey diverts itself into unexpected interludes. Audiences might recognize Bobby Lee from his stand-up, "madTV" or his supporting roles where he often plays comic relief. But here, he reveals himself as a committed dramatic actor, hitting moments with authenticity, sincerity and, when it calls for it, vulnerability. He plays well off actor Matt Jones as the Grim Reaper, who has his brand of world-weariness and existential wear-and-tear. But when even the Grim Reaper consoles Timmy with unsuspecting understanding, Timmy is driven to confront his sadness directly -- and in doing so, accomplish what truly matters before he goes. Distinctive, funny and unexpectedly resonant, "Death and Ramen" wears its quirks and eccentricities openly, but underneath it all, it has tremendous heart and emotion. It understands how people grieve and suffer, but also how pain can co-exist next to moments of almost unbearable poignancy and beauty. Even though Timmy's path is irrevocable, he still finds release. And oddly and wondrously, an affirmation of life even in the afterworld, having made sure that the most important things have been done and expressed before he's truly gone.
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