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Master Cheng

Original title: Mestari Cheng
  • 2019
  • 1h 54m
IMDb RATING
6.8/10
2.6K
YOUR RATING
Anna-Maija Tuokko and Pak Hon Chu in Master Cheng (2019)
Mestari Cheng: Chinesische Verkostigung (German Subtitled)
Play clip2:40
Watch Mestari Cheng: Chinesische Verkostigung (German Subtitled)
4 Videos
10 Photos
ComedyDramaRomance

Following the death of his wife, professional chef Cheng travels with his young son to a remote village in Finland to connect with an old Finnish friend he once met in Shanghai.Following the death of his wife, professional chef Cheng travels with his young son to a remote village in Finland to connect with an old Finnish friend he once met in Shanghai.Following the death of his wife, professional chef Cheng travels with his young son to a remote village in Finland to connect with an old Finnish friend he once met in Shanghai.

  • Director
    • Mika Kaurismäki
  • Writer
    • Hannu Oravisto
  • Stars
    • Pak Hon Chu
    • Anna-Maija Tuokko
    • Lucas Hsuan
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.8/10
    2.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Mika Kaurismäki
    • Writer
      • Hannu Oravisto
    • Stars
      • Pak Hon Chu
      • Anna-Maija Tuokko
      • Lucas Hsuan
    • 22User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win

    Videos4

    Mestari Cheng: Chinesische Verkostigung (German Subtitled)
    Clip 2:40
    Watch Mestari Cheng: Chinesische Verkostigung (German Subtitled)
    Mestari Cheng: Kennen Sie Fongtron? (German Subtitled)
    Clip 2:33
    Watch Mestari Cheng: Kennen Sie Fongtron? (German Subtitled)
    Mestari Cheng: Etwas Sehr Finnisches (German Subtitled)
    Clip 2:03
    Watch Mestari Cheng: Etwas Sehr Finnisches (German Subtitled)
    Mestari Cheng: Good Food Make Happy (German Subtitled)
    Clip 1:17
    Watch Mestari Cheng: Good Food Make Happy (German Subtitled)

    Photos10

    Master Cheng (2019)
    Anna-Maija Tuokko and Pak Hon Chu in Master Cheng (2019)
    Anna-Maija Tuokko and Pak Hon Chu in Master Cheng (2019)
    Lucas Hsuan and Pak Hon Chu in Master Cheng (2019)
    Anna-Maija Tuokko and Lucas Hsuan in Master Cheng (2019)
    Mika Kaurismäki, Kari Väänänen, and Pak Hon Chu in Master Cheng (2019)
    Anna-Maija Tuokko at an event for Master Cheng (2019)
    Anna-Maija Tuokko and Pak Hon Chu in Master Cheng (2019)
    Anna-Maija Tuokko and Pak Hon Chu in Master Cheng (2019)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Pak Hon Chu
    Pak Hon Chu
    • Cheng
    • (as Chu Pak Hong)
    Anna-Maija Tuokko
    Anna-Maija Tuokko
    • Sirkka
    Lucas Hsuan
    Lucas Hsuan
    • Niu Niu
    Kari Väänänen
    Kari Väänänen
    • Romppainen
    Vesa-Matti Loiri
    • Vilppula
    Paula Miettinen
    • Mervi
    Hannu Oravisto
    • Police officer
    Jonne Kaaretkoski
    • Police officer
    Helka Periaho
    • Teacher
    Kari Koivukangas
    • Bus driver
    Vesa-Matti Komonen
    • Construction worker
    Markku Lukka
    • Construction worker
    Joni Kuokkanen
    • Construction worker
    Marko Syysmaa
    • Doctor
    Tang Chao
    • Tour guide
    Bonnie Wang
    • Tourist
    Juhani Alatörmänen
    • Old man
    Jouni Seppälä
    • Dancing-stage entrepreneur
    • Director
      • Mika Kaurismäki
    • Writer
      • Hannu Oravisto
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Was shot mainly in the village of Raattama, Lapland, where the village's entire population of around 100 residents got involved in the making of the film.
    • Goofs
      Sirkka and Nunjo are stargazing during twilight, when no stars are visible. There is no darkness beyond the polar circle in several months during the summer. Though it gets a bit darker in some scenes, so the movie might've been shot in the late summer and some of the stars might be somewhat visible.

    User reviews22

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    A Beautiful, Inspiring FIlm
    I saw this at a recent film festival, and was refreshed by its compassionate and humane plot and characterisation.

    It is set in rural Finland. The female lead runs a struggling restaurant popular with the locals but serving the most bland of food (from our point of view). One day, a mysterious and troubled-seeming Chinese gentleman who also happens to be an experienced chef appears out of nowhere. To cut a long story short, he spices things up and takes over the operation of the lady's restaurant.

    But this is only incidental; beneath the superficial plot is a deeply tender and inspiring one about two wounded individuals trying to escape the demons of their past, and falling deeply in love in the process, which is conveyed with rare compassion and affection.

    This is that rare thing in cinema: a genuinely wholesome film that is never earnest or sentimental, but genuinely entertaining. It struck me that this is perhaps the first film I have seen in a long time where every single character is likeable, and where I genuinely left the cinema feeling somehow purified. Even the at first insular and seemingly xenophobic restaurant regulars show the deepest magnanimity. It's refreshing, and comes highly recommended.
    helpful•6
    1
    • Honi_soit_qui
    • Mar 14, 2022

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    FAQ1

    • What is the title of the song that Chu Pak Hong sings in the movie?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 27, 2019 (Finland)
    • Countries of origin
      • Finland
      • China
    • Official sites
      • Lapland Film Commission (Finland)
      • MFA+ FilmDistribution (Germany)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Finnish
      • Mandarin
    • Also known as
      • A Spice for Life
    • Filming locations
      • Raattama, Kittilä, Finland(location)
    • Production companies
      • Marianna Films
      • By Media
      • Han Ruanyan He
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • €2,869,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $465,931
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 54 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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