IP Man The final Fight in Udine
IP MAN - THE FINAL FIGHT: the roots of kung fu with Anthony Wong in the role of the legendary master Bruce Lee!. The new, eagerly awaited chapter of the biopic, in its European premiere in Udine, immediately following its debut at the Hong Kong Film Festival – HKIFF of 17 March
Honour, courage, discipline, respect: the profound roots of oriental culture, but also the profound roots of kung fu. The same kung fu that Ip Man, the legendary master of Bruce Lee, was (and remains) an icon of. A symbol of strength, loyalty and wisdom that Asian cinema has celebrated with two extraordinary biopics, and that is now ready to be celebrated once again with a brand new chapter!
Following on from Ip Man and Ip Man 2, both with Wilson Yip in the director’s chair, and both much applauded at previous editions of the Far East Film Festival in Udine (respectively in 2009 and 2010), we bring to you Ip Man – The Final Fight (distributed worldwide by Emperor Motion Pictures of HK). An eagerly awaited film which, immediately after opening the Hong Kong International Film Festival (the date is set for 17 March), will make its European big screen debut at the fifteenth Far East Film Festival in Udine.
Taking the reins this time, and guaranteeing continuity and quality, is the versatile Herman Yau, an old friend of the Udine public (he directed the prequel The Legend is Born), while starring as the unforgettable Mister Ip, previously played by the wonderful Donnie Yen, is another old pal of the Udine viewing public (and not only of Udine): the superstar Anthony Wong (Anthony Wong Chau-sang), backed up by the Asian Joe Pesci, Eric Tsang!
Just as Ip Man, who departed this mortal coil in 1972, had gloriously gone through the history of martial arts, Anthony is still gliding through the history of Hong Kong cinema. And whosoever has seen genuine masterpieces like The Mission by Johnnie To or Infernal Affairs by Andrew Lau and Alan Mak, to name but two cornerstones of the Far East Film Festival, knows exactly what we are talking about!
Ip Man – The Final Fight describes the final chapter in the life of Mister Ip, and also the life of the Hong Kong community through the decades (from 1949 to 1972), and alternates magnificent action choreography with tender melancholic moments, public battles and private pain, configuring itself as a film within kung fu, not merely one about kung fu.
It is the post-war period, in Hong Kong (the meticulous work of reconstruction of the cinematography would deserve a study of its own!). The grandmaster of Wing Chun is now reluctant to go into combat; but to defend his life and honour from the powers of the Triad, he has no choice: he has to face his final battle, and the final challenge will take place during a typhoon, within the walls of the forbidden Kowloon City...
A film destined – and this is not a hard prediction to make – to leave its mark. The previous two outings were, and indeed still are, dear to the hearts of the FEFF spectators, while their screenings on Rai 4 (the digital channel of the State TV) as part of the Missione: Estremo Oriente cycle of films (inspired by FEFF), were received by rave reviews. A major success story both on the big and small screen which now will not only be joined by Ip Man – The Final Fight, but also by Ip Man 3D, planned for 2014, with the old partnership of Donnie Yen/Wilson Yip (and of course The Grandmaster by Wong Kar Wai)!
So all that’s left to do is count down the days until FEFF begins in Udine, in the traditional setting of the Teatro Nuovo (1200 seats, always packed by the Far East fanatics), from 19 to 27 April.
