The Grandmaster
Director: Wong Kar-Wai
Writer(s): Jingzhi Zou, Haofeng Xu
Producer(s): Kar-Wai and Jacky Pang Yee Wah
U.S. Distributor: Annapurna Pictures
Cast: Tony Leung Chiu Wai, Ziyi Zhang, Chen Chang
First reviews are out: here is Variety’s take: “Venturing into fresh creative terrain without relinquishing his familiar themes and stylistic flourishes, Hong Kong auteur Wong Kar Wai exceeds expectations with “The Grandmaster,” fashioning a 1930s action saga into a refined piece of commercial filmmaking. Boasting one of the most propulsive yet ethereal realizations of authentic martial arts onscreen, as well as a merging of physicality and philosophy not attained in Chinese cinema since King Hu’s masterpieces, the hotly anticipated pic is sure to win new converts from the genre camp. Wong’s Eurocentric arthouse disciples, however, may not be completely in tune with the film’s more traditional storytelling and occasionally long-winded technical exposition.”
Gist: The story of martial-arts master Ip Man, the man who trained Bruce Lee.
Release Date: Chinese release last week, followed by world preem at the Berlin Film Festival followed by a release via Annapurna Pictures (their first ever theatrical launch).
