While it may not quite reach its potential, Master Cheng is as warm as a Finnish sauna on a cold, icy day. Master Cheng arrives in selected theatres on March 11th.
Mika Kaurismäki’s latest feature, Mestari Cheng (Master Cheng), is a feel-good romantic comedy and a cross-cultural exploration of two cultures colliding. While enjoyable for the most part, it occasionally falls flat due to its easily remedied central conflicts and never quite reaches its full potential.
In Master Cheng, we meet a Chinese chef, Cheng (Pak Hon Chu), who, following the death of his wife, decides to travel to a remote village in Finland with his son, Niu Niu (Lucas Hsuan), to look for an old friend. But on arrival, Cheng cannot find the mystery man and ends up boarding at a local diner, where he meets owner Sirkka (Anna-Maija Tuokko) and boards in exchange for helping run the kitchen. Initially, Cheng’s unique and exotic meals are met with disapproval from the locals, who shun new tastes. However, the small community quickly welcomes Cheng, who brings them new flavours and culinary adventures, and soon becomes a beloved member of the community.
READ MORE: ABE
However, despite its warmth, there are problems. For example, Cheng’s son feels lonely and alienated in their new environment and wanders off into the deep Finnish forest, where he gets lost. This would create an urgent conflict in many other films, yet it doesn’t here. In fact, by the time Sirkka and Cheng realise the boy has disappeared, he has been brought back by one of the town’s locals, and the incident is never mentioned or reflected on again. Similarly, Cheng initially helps out in the kitchen for only one day because Chinese tourists stop for lunch, and while the otherwise fictional town of Pohjanjoki could easily be a beloved tourist spot, it feels like such an improbable coincidence.
The movie’s narrative leaves us with a film that often feels overly simple and perfect. The only actual conflict that brings about a turning point in the plot is Cheng’s visa expiring, and he faces a dilemma: either return to his hectic life in Shanghai or stay in the peaceful, idyllic Finnish countryside. Of course, his decision is further complicated by his growing love for Sirkka.
READ MORE: DARE TO DREAM
Make no mistake: Master Cheng is a light-hearted, enjoyable film. On the surface, it is a heartwarming romantic comedy with likeable characters and stunning cinematography by Jari Mutikainen that captures a melting pot of cultures, from Nordic sunsets to mouth-watering Asian meals. Meanwhile, the film’s humour arises from recurring misunderstandings stemming from cultural differences and language barriers. Both the Finnish locals and Cheng communicate via broken English, ensuring neither culture is the target of misplaced humour. The trademark Nordic humour we love comes from two grumpy but lovable old men who help Cheng assimilate into everyday life by taking him on a boat ride, fishing and, of course, to a sauna.
Once we look more closely, however, some of the film’s flaws inevitably come to light. Apart from the language barrier, the portrayal of the cultural differences, regrettably, at times, feels stereotypical. For example, Cheng is more reserved and distant than the jolly and friendly Finnish locals. Of course, this could be due to his grief and place as a “stranger in a strange land”. Yet Cheng also acts this way around his son, embodying the strict, distant Asian father stereotype.
Equally problematic is the lack of focus on Cheng’s son, Niu Niu. His viewpoint is never explored beyond his quick escape into the woods. Given that Sirkka and Cheng’s romantic relationship derives from loss on both sides, surely it would have been worth exploring Niu Niu’s feelings as well.
READ MORE: HEARTSTONE
Kaurismäki’s film is undoubtedly positive and light in construction, but sadly, it does not showcase anything we haven’t seen before. The film’s initial conversations on the value and power of globalisation eventually get lost in a romantic soup. This is a pity, as Master Cheng could have developed these themes further, exploring people’s ability to learn from one another regardless of cultural and linguistic differences.
While it is often predictable and lacking in ambition, Master Cheng is still an enjoyable and positive film. Its universal and life-affirming themes are topped off with genuinely humorous moments well worth your time. Kaurismäki’s feel-good romantic comedy joyously avoids the tropes of American cinema, and while it may not quite reach its potential, Master Cheng is as warm as a Finnish sauna on a cold, icy day.
Follow Us