Master Cheng

Following the death of his wife, Cheng, a professional chef from Shanghai, travels with his young son to a remote village in Finnish Lapland. His goal is to visit an old friend, but upon arrival, he finds that no one in the community seems to know the man. A local café owner named Sirkka offers him a place to stay, and in exchange, Cheng begins working in her kitchen. By introducing the residents to Chinese cuisine, he overcomes cultural barriers and forms deep bonds with the villagers. When his tourist visa nears expiration, the community works together to find a way for him to remain in Finland.

The film was directed by Mika Kaurismäki, marking his third feature following Road North and The Girl King. The cast features Chu Pak-Hong as Cheng and Anna-Maija Tuokko as Sirkka, with supporting roles played by Lucas Hsuan, Kari Väänänen, Vesa-Matti Loiri, and Paula Miettinen. Produced by Marianna Films, QianJi Culture Co. Ltd., and By Media, the project had a budget of 3 million USD. Audience reception has been positive, as seen by a rating of 7/10 on TMDB based on 73 votes.