The Final Master

Plot

The story follows the journey of Wing Chun Grandmaster Chen, the last surviving practitioner. After Chen's master died, he wanted to honor is memory by fulfilling his dream to open a Wing Chung School in Tianjin, a city known for its martial arts culture. With the aid of Master Zheng, Chen takes on a three-year journey to realize his vision.

Master Zheng is a board member of the Tianjin Martial Art's Committee, a group that has the power to allow or deny anyone the right to practice and/or teach martial arts within the city. Master Chen impressed Zheng with his Wing Chun and decided to help him as his last major endeavour before he retires. However, the board has their own rules and Zheng advises Chen in how to navigate through the nuances of the rules to reach his goals in the shortest path possible; Chen is going to need help.

Zheng warned Chen that in order to gain membership consideration and earn the right to open a school within Tianjin, Chen needs to prove he's not after power and he can't directly challenge the schools, but still needs to defeat eight schools; he's going to need a wife and disciple. For a wife, he chose to marry a local woman, Zhao, a woman that once had a mixed child and it made her a social pariah. Although beautiful, Zhao has no suitors and Chen chose to marry her. Through negotiation, Chen and Zhao made a clear definition of how their married life will be like and the two maintained appearances as a poor couple. For a student, Chen chose Geng, a brash and ambitious rickshaw coolie that was impressed by Chen's skills and decided to help him realize his ambition.

In three years Geng quickly mastered Wing Chun and helped Chen attained the victories he needed. However, that drew suspicion of the board as well as concern because they don't want anyone new to disrupt their order. Things began to go awry when Zheng was upsurped by his own disciple. His student tricked him into a match and lost, allowing him to gain automatic entry, but left Zheng humiliated and only two houses in his name after a lifetime of hardwork gone. No longer able to help Chen, Zheng decided to leave for Brazil and manage a cocoa plantation to the end of his days. However, despite Zheng parting ways, the committee decided to grant Chen's wish: Chen will have his Wing Chun Club, but for only one year before he's to disband and leave Tianjin, a faux victory.

The committee needed to make an example for Geng and he was critically wounded with two knives in his abdomen. He had the chance to seek medical aid, but he would have to leave Tianjin and never return, but Geng was stubborn and refused to leave. Rather get medical attention, Geng stumbled back to town and died from excessive blood loss. His death would set the next stage of things with Chen.

Chen got his wish, but at the price of Geng. Angry and guilty of what had happened, Chen wanted to take his rage against the committee, but he was framed for murder instead. While struggling with Zheng's student, his neck was slit and everyone blamed Chen for it. Chen made an escape, but with the entire martial arts club after him, he had to face skilled martial artists to fight his way through. While he ultimately fought his way to freedom, he lost Zhao along the way and couldn't find her. They originally agreed if they can't find each other, they would part ways forever to signify a clean cut divorce. Chen presumed Zhao left him and he returned to Guangzhou alone, however, Zhao actually made it late. In the end, Chen lost everything in his quest to fulfill his master's wish.

Reception

The film was released in China and Taiwan in December 2015 to generally favorable reviews from critics. The film received 7.4/10 on IMDb, 8.1/10 on Douban and 7.8/10 on Mtime. The film was nominated for 2015 Golden Horse Awards Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress and Best Choreography. The film won Best Choreography.

North American Release

The film is premiering at the 2016 Seattle International Film Festival on May 28, 2016. Director Xu Haofeng will attend and be present at the festival. Following its North America Premiere, Director Xu will travel to San Francisco and Los Angeles to host preview screenings on May 30 and June 1, 2016, respectively. Due to audience demand and an Internet petition, there will be a U.S. DVD and Bluray release in late 2016.