What do Paul Rubens, Jonathan Gold, and Quincy Jones have in common? They are all Artists in Residence at the LA Film Festival (LAFF) this year. Each was asked to select a film that has inspired his work: Jones will present The Color Purple, by Steven Spielberg; Reubens offers up You Can't Take It With You, by Frank Capra; and Jonathan Gold has selected Udon, by Katsuyuki Motohiro. “I picked Udon because there is an awful lot of food in it, and because it really hasn't been seen here,” says Gold.

Udon (2006, Japan) is a a lightweight but charming film about a failed comedian (son of a stubborn noodlemaker) from Sanuki who ends up writing a guidebook to the udon restaurants around his hometown, and igniting a national udon craze. This isn't a National Geographic Deep End Dining excursion; we're talking noodles here. Gold will discuss food in film after the screening.

Screening: Saturday, June 19th, at the Downtown Independent; $12.

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