I lived in Finland briefly, and watching this film made me homesick for my time there. It has an excellent sense of place and effectively evokes both Finnish and Chinese cultures. It's a quiet, thoughtful movie that takes its time. Showing an evolving romance between people from two famously reserved cultures takes special skill, but the tender performances really make it land. There were a couple of places where I felt things could have been heightened a bit, but that may also be because of the culture I'm from. I really enjoyed this, and I'd definitely watch it again.
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rednikki11 June 2020
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putneychick14 January 2022I'm Chinese so was puzzled with the title when I happened to turn onto Netflix this evening. What a pleasant surprise watching this film and bringing back food memories seeing him cook those dishes. Setting was unusual -in Finland and actors were extremely understated so no Hollywood frills which made this movie very different and lovely to watch. Blend of some Chinese music as well as times and I was so happy that I could understand the Chinese language even though I had not used it for years due to me living in Denmark for 20 years. The landscapes were just breathtaking.
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IndustriousAngel17 January 2021A quiet story about a budding romance between two loners and the power of food. Nothing special, but charming in its simplicity - this movie doesn't WANT to be special, it just presents the characters (and landscape) in a relaxed, unagitated manner. There's exactly one urgent situation in the film (it concerns the boy) and that gets resolved in about one minute.
Not exactly required viewing, but for a nice evening, you can do worse than give this movie a chance. -
dromasca15 November 2019'Mestari Cheng', the film of the Finnish director Mika Kaurismäki, which opened last night at the local cinematheque the Nordic film festival, is one of those films for which as a spectator you cannot refrain from feeling sympathy and emotion despite your instincts and knowledge of movie fan, a film that makes the most of the melodrama's tools, demonstrating what can be reached within this genre but also what are its limitations if the director falls too rigorously into the pattern and adds nothing personal. The central theme of the festival that started is the migration, immigration, emigration, with their hardships and suffering but also with the cultural and human opportunities opened by the people's movement and the meetings of the cultures. 'Mestari Cheng' ('Chef Cheng') fits in well with itstheme and is likely to be loved by many viewers.
There is a second main theme in the film - that of culinary art as a means of meeting people and bringing cultures together. This is not an original theme either, but it is the one that manages to attract best the attention and arise emotion. Food as a feeling and as a philosophy, as a communication medium and as a universal cure for the health of the body but especially of the soul. The story of the chef from Shanhai that fate brings to a hamlet in northern Finland, far removed from the world but miraculous as a natural landscape and rich in human landscape could happen anytime and anywhere on our planet today. The reasons that bring the man along with his eight-year-old boy to a country that is from many points of view on the opposite poles of China are different from those of economic migrants, and the connection between him and the local woman is more than the meeting of two lonelinesses marked by personal traumas from each one's past.
The film manages to create a believable world on screen, with characters we seem to know although they belong to cultures that are so different and different from ours. The merit belongs in particular to the excellent team of actors. The two actors cast in the lead roles, Pak Hon Chu and Anna-Maija Tuokko, develop interesting and complex characters, and the 'chemistry' between them is visible and transmitted to the public. Some of the supporting characters are also well-shaped appearances. And yet, beyond a certain moment (and that moment was quite early during the projection) I had a sense of repetition, of deja vu, of predictability, of tourist-cultural propaganda. I think the problem is the too rich a collection of stereotypes and common places about the relationships between men and women, about Chinese and Finns, about emigrants and locals opening their hearts to and for the visitors, about the relationships between overworked fathers and their children who miss their presence in their lives, about loneliness, mourning, tolerance and intolerance. The film has good chances to be very successful in China, but it has something to offer to viewers in other parts of the world. It's hard not to be impressed by the acting and the natural emotions caused by the intrigue, this I propose to those who will see the film, not even try to resist them. The final sensation was, to me at least, similar to that of hearing famous music in kitch versions of the like of Clayderman or André Rieu. But there are, I know, many, many, many Clayderman and Rieu fans in the world. -
MarjorieHMorgan31 January 2023If you want to spend a relaxing and uplifting couple of hours with a film drama you could choose Master Cheng (2019 - 1h 52m).
If you want fast action, and violent scenes you'd best look elsewhere. This film is a retreat from the everyday life that many of us experience - it's like having a holiday from the frenetic energy of the world. The blurb reads as follows:
"Professional chef Cheng arrives in a remote Finnish village with his young son looking for 'Fongtron', but nobody can help him. Sarkki, owner of the local café, offers them a meal and a room. Cheng repays her hospitality by cooking his own food, which soon entrances the locals.
In Finnish, Cantonese and English with English subtitles."As a film it worked well for me. It was a gently paced story that had all the emotional pulls that good films should contain. In addition, it was enhanced by beautiful scenery of the Finnish countryside (another county added to my 'must visit list'), and haunting music. Featuring Chu Pak Hong, as the mysterious Master Cheng, and Lucas Hsuan as his sad and lonely son Niu Niu, we see them arrive in a remote Finnish village that seems to have nothing to offer either of them, until they get to know the owner of a local café, Anna-Maija Tuokko as Sirkka.
It is Sirkka's act of kindness that initially gives the two travellers a place to be while they consider their next steps. These two people join a disparate group of fragile people, all silently carrying their own deep and private wounds - in that sense, they are perfectly at home.
At first the language and cultural barriers arrear to be insurmountable problems to Cheng's important quest to find Mr Fongtron, those barrier also seem destined to keep him and his son isolated together and positioned outside of their temporary community.
However, food is the key that connects the strangers to the foreign community and opens both the hearts and the minds of all concerned.
The meals that Master Cheng creates begins to have a healing effect on the different members of the community, and the newcomers begin to find a place to exist in this new foreign environment. Therefore it is not long before there is a growth of mutual respect on all sides despite the continued language communication barriers.
Master Cheng's life alters unexpectedly when he arrives in Finland, and Sirkka's whole world changes without her having to leave her own café, or village.
As Master Cheng says, "People happy important. Good food make happy. Important."Good stories give people hope, heal them and can also make people happy. It's important.
P. S. Peter Bradshaw of the Guardian did not like Master Cheng very much, I beg to differ.
What do you think? Worth your time? -
hansolo1115 August 2023'Master Cheng' exhibits the essentials of a great film, much like the directorial films of Clint Eastwood. Low budget, small cast, limited location, but an excellent story and excellent use of both actors and location settings.
From the start of the film, I was slowly drawn in. I was kept in by the strong performances of the lead characters, as well as the mystery and emotional undertones of the two main leads.
If you're a film student, this film is certainly one to watch, as it demonstrates the critical attributes of a good movie. If you are a film-lover, as I am, I highly recommend this film as a very refreshing change from all the CGI or 'guns and explosion' laden films that we are bombarded with. This film made me want to seek out other films of this kind.
Enjoy! -
sortedforesandwizz4 January 2022I had never heard of this movie before I watched it, as I stumbled across it by accident while browsing Netflix. The description didn't reveal much about the plot, but I decided to give it a try - and I'm so glad I did.
This is a delightful movie: funny, moving and heartwarming. "Mestari Cheng" is an entertaining feel-good movie, still it has plenty of depth. It will possibly make you tear up once or twice, while causing you to laugh out loud at other parts. The acting performances are solid and the scenery is stunning.
"Mestari Cheng" provides a completely new way of looking at international (Finnish-Chinese) relations and culture clashes. It is not like anything I have ever watched before, yet it is brilliant. This film definitely deserves more recognition. Do yourself a favour and watch it! -
agnesunt11 December 2020I would recommend it to those who seek to see beautiful Finnish landscapes and a delicate, loving story unravel itself. It's quiet and peaceful, full of beauty and kindness!
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Ttuhat21 April 2021I stumbled upon this movie by accident and quite early in the movie I was taken by it. Beautiful scenery, good cast and heartwarming story.
It's worth a watch, bit of old Finnish culture with beautiful nature of Lapland, mixed with Chinese culture. -
Bluegull9924 November 2020This movie has beautiful pictures, warm humour, nice actors in it. And it's a lovely story too. Sadly it is quite unrealistic. Let me put it like this: not every one from China is able to cook on a chef level and not every Chinese person does Chi Gong and Tai Chi. Also, having lived in Finland for quite some time (and I loved it there and still love it today!) I can tell you one thing: Finnish people are special for many reasons, and I like their general way of mostly being calm, sensible, and totally non-hysterical in any thinkable way. Also I personally liked that people quite keep a distance there, that there was no pressure of socialising like mad all the time, hugging and kissing strangers on the cheek etc. All that is quite to enjoy if you are like that yourself, like I am. But it also means that you do not simply make a ton of friends in Finland easily, it's quite the opposite. People remain quite reserved for a comparably long time there and that is even if you speak Finnish, look Caucasian and are competely included work/leasuretimewise. And that goes for the bigger cities with comparably many people. So I personally seriously doubt that a Chinese cook unable to speak Finnish would simply win over a complete remote Finnish small town and have 'many friends' there. In reality this simply wouldn't happen. That said it is a nice fairytale idea that it would happen like that and if you blend out reality you can enjoy this as what it is - a fairytale.
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Warm, slow story, with Finnish humour and beautiful Lapland landscapes. If you know Finnish mentality and you like it, then this movie is for you. Female actres great role. Film filled my heart with love to Lapland, although I haven't yet been there.
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mikko-kurppa27 January 2022This is an excellent movie in many ways. The storyline and the way it is filmed is realistic, actors are very talented and the sceneries magnificent. It is a touching film but not in a corny way. The two old men are famous Finnish actors and they play their part so well that it does not even feel like they are acting (more like a documentary). It´s a feel good movie that will make you hungry, especially if you like Chinese cuisine.
I do not often rate movies, and can´t remember ever giving a 9 at Imbd, but this one deserved one. -
tssoukka27 January 2022With me having traveled the north, this hit the exact spot to activate my desire to get back up north. Incredible quality of production, good feelings all the way along the movie, especially nearing the end!
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The film seems like a long travel commercial targeted towards elderly Finns and Chinese audiences. The story is both predictable and forgettable and re-produces stereotypes about the "perfect migrants" who apparently work happily without pay. The use of "bad English" as the main language that is spoken throughout the film brings with itself a whole new level of cringness and that would otherwise be already quite high with embarrassing dialogue, bad jokes and thin and dry characters. While the music and scenery of rural Lapland and nice, they are not enough to save this film from the overall bad writing and boring story.
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Honi_soit_qui14 March 2022I 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. -
wctoiletseat20 December 2020Absolutely beautiful movie and directed in middle of finlands best nature . So warm and authentic feelings. Anna Maija fits perfectly in this movie and Cheng also. Mika , this was this movie went straight to My top5 movies. Thank you for this great 2hours.
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I really enjoyed watching this hidden gem on BBC iPlayer, nice ending I didn't want the film to end. Highlights the amazing dishes of Chinese culinary and how done in certain ways can have soul warming and healing properties. Sirrka is the ying to master Cheng's Yang. Well made. I loved the involvement of the eldest in the Finnish community who are used to rubbery potatoes and sausages start to enjoy and embrace Chinese cooking and their culture lol even using chopsticks towards the end of the film. Like I said I really enjoyed this heart warming story of love especially coming from two people of very different cultural backgrounds but in many ways very similar.
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davidallenxyz6 February 2023The location: a tiny Finnish village. Little more than a roadside cafe and a few wooden houses.
An unexpected visitor arrives from China with nothing but his son and the unrecognisable name of a person he is searching for.
Will he overcome the language barrier? Will he find who he is looking for? Does he have mysterious powers? Is he in some kind of danger?
All these questions and more are teased in this film... but don't worry, it's just a slow, safe film with a conventional outcome that feels like it was funded by the Finnish tourist board.
If, like me, you were hoping for something a little more involving than a Sunday teatime drama I'm afraid you'll be disappointed. -
sakalamk28 July 2020Romantical story mixing chinese food and people with Lappland beauriful nature and finnish characters. Especially good are nature scenes on big screen.. Take time, no hurty, fill heart with love and enjoy. Little bit must be understand Finnish mentalitt.
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michaelgrantham29 January 2023Sometimes wonderful things happen when nations cooperate! This film is absolutely lovely. The story is set in Finland and introduces us to Cheng, who is looking for a Chinese friend with his son. He meets Sirkka, a Finnish girl who runs the local restaurant in a small provincial Finnish town of mostly old and retired people. It's a simple story set in the stunning scenery of Finland. The two leads work very well together and have great chemistry..
Gradually we learn why Cheng came to Finland and he helps Sirkka to run the Restaurant, rapidly forming a bond with the local people who are highly suspicious at first. We watch as he has to deal with his own problems and has to face problems with the Police and immigration.
My wife and I totally enjoyed it and it deserves better than it's relatively low IMDB rating. -
timmytoo2001-215 March 2022This is a gentle, charming and engaging film about loss, redemption and finding love in the most unexpected place, together with the wonderful secenery of the Finnish countryside. Highly recommended.
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If you are not living in the North of Scandinavia And din't like chinees cultur and food, this movie is difficult to understand. For urban people 'Babette's Feast' with a French Chef comming to Denmark some hundret years ago. This film has heartwarming elements we see. Not often anymore, because the drama departement and action department does their job and can destroy any movie. This movie don't need 100 carcrashes and lots of drama to get tears in your eyes and get the human aspect in focus. Also how our health and the food we eat is totally connected. We have forgotten that aspect and just realy on Pharmaindustri and hope pills can save us.
No! Food is our medicin. Nothing else. A good and honest movie. -
austenyoung-233-32257325 April 2023My main problem here (apart from the rampant general mediocrity) is that many of the actors seem to be reading scripts from different films. They interact with each other in as much as they are in the same room looking at each other but the dialogue is completely non sequitur. 'Hey Cheng, are you married?' 'I had a wife, she had a bike and died' is just one of my favourite bits of banter. Occasionally master will say something profound and look to his son with a knowing look awaiting an equally profound face or question. The son (apparently in a totally different film) sits motionless and blank faced while the father caresses his head as though a moment was just shared. Utter garbage. You could watch it ironically I guess, if there's no footy on. Up to you 👎💩
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crumpytv6 August 2023Just a nice film. A pleasant change from a lot of contemporary dramas full of tokenism and political correctness.
A slow burning romance and an interesting insight into the benefits of quality cuisine.
Master Cheng (AKA A Spice for Life) is a 2019 Finnish romantic drama comedy film directed by Mika Kaurismäki. The film stars Anna-Maija Tuokko, Chu Pak Hong, Kari Väänänen, Lucas Hsuan and Vesa-Matti Loiri, with dialogue in Finnish, Cantonese and English.
The story concerns the Chinese master cook Cheng (Hong), who travels to the small village of Raattama in Kittilä, Lapland, with his son. Cheng's cooking causes an overhaul of local life and cures local people of ailments ranging from high blood pressure to menstrual pain. The story also touches on aspects of childlessness and of losing one's spouse. -
stud_meister_footlong13 December 2023This movie was a pleasant surprise. I am not one for some of these fish out of water, but I did get caught up with his back story and the slow burn romance that developed.
Getting to become besties with the older Fins took a bit of a stretch, but can see how they could develop a mutual respect and then a friendship thru food and their shared interest to help him with his search.
Where some of the convenient plot coincidences, like the busload of Chinese tourists getting stranded in front of the restaurant, and just by chance at the little grocery store has all the necessary components for him to make the most fabulous chinese meal - well - okay, kinda chuckled.
But aside from that, the movie is a decent watch. There's a lot worse out there to waste time on.