Last Week at Ed’s (Meg and Lawrence Kasdan, 2019): USA

Reviewed by Ryo Nishimura. Viewed at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2020.

“Last Week at Ed’s” is a short documentary about the closing of a local breakfast joint in West Hollywood. The beloved joint has been around for 60 years and has been run by family. When Ada, the manager and daughter of the original owners of Ed’s announces the closing of the restaurant, the regulars are left devastated and heartbroken.

This short documentary really warmed my heart and left me in a good mood afterwards. We immediately feel connected with the manager, Ada, and understand her love for people and the restaurant. Ed’s is a easy going diner where people come to have a good time. The documentary interviews many of the regulars and they all have countless amounts of memories from eating there. We can clearly see that Ed’s has a special place in each and every one of these regulars. Due to the expensive rent and competition with bigger companies around West Hollywood, Ada has sadly decided to close down Ed’s since the place is unaffordable. When the news is announced, the regulars come together and celebrate the history and love fro Ed’s. This short highlights real life matters as well. In today’s world, many rent prices are rising and the local stores and beginning to get kicked out due to the change in the city. A film that highlights similar matters is The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019). The Last Black Man in San Francisco is a story about two men who try to reclaim their home that was built by one of their grandfathers, in a changing city.

Last Week at Ed’s is an example of prime story telling in my opinion and I believe that the directors did a great job on telling Ada’s story. From an audience’s perspective where the majority of us have never gone to this breakfast joint, the director does not fail at having us care about the restaurant. We feel as if we are regulars and in the end we also feel heartbroken when the restaurant closes. The director tells the story in a three act structure. The first act was introducing the breakfast joint and getting into the rich history of Ed’s. We learn the back stories, the memories, and what makes Ed’s, “Ed’s”. By the end of the first act, we feel the value of this restaurant and understand why the locals love it here. Ed’s is welcoming and home-like, where the customers feel like they are eating at home. When the second act begins, we learn that Ed’s is closing soon; this brings in the conflict that drives the story. The directors is able to amplify this conflict by interviewing the customers which makes the audience feel as if we are customers as well. We see the different reactions of each regular and also the reaction of Ada, the manager of Ed’s. By the end of the second act, we feel a deep need that Ed’s must keep going. In the third and final act, the story wraps up. Ed’s closes and we see the regulars and Ada come together as a family. Although Ed’s was unable to stay in business, the director leaves us in a bitter sweet happy ending.

Last Week at Ed’s will definitely leave you in a happy mood, so go watch it and wear your heart a little bit.