Seeing Red Media

Film Title: Chinese Takeaway

Directed By: Sebastián Borensztein

Cast: Ricardo Darin, Muriel Santa Ana, Ignacio Huang, Enric Cambray, Ivan Romanelli.

Rating: M

Every now and then, a film emerges with a synopsis that doesn’t sound very engaging, and then slowly proceeds to blow any preconceived ideas away. Chinese Takeaway is one such specimen. The easiest way to describe this curious Argentinian film is to liken it a Kurt Vonnegut novel, filtered through the lens of globalisation, and fronted by Paul Giamatti’s Latin cousin. Ricardo Darin (The Secrets In Their Eyes) is Roberto, possibly the finest screen shopkeeper since Albert Arkwright hung up his apron. Harnessing all of Basil Faulty’s customer service acumen, and some, Roberto skulks about Buenos Aeries haunted by the ghosts of his parents and trapped in the rigidness of his self imposed routines. Far too set in his miserly existence to even register the amorous advances of Mari (Muriel Santa Ana), an admirer, Roberto’s miserly existence is unexpectedly shaken-up when he witnesses a young Chinese man being turfed out of a taxi. Possessing not a word of Spanish, Jun (Ignacio Huang) has only the clothes on his back and a tattooed street address on his forearm. Now, if you had to pick a Good Samaritan, its fair bet that Roberto wouldn’t be an obvious choice. Jun unfortunately doesn’t have options, so he tags along with the curmudgeonly loner in the hope that they can track down his uncle. What ensues is a delightful exchange of culture and humanity. Spliced together with plenty of refreshing non-pc anecdotes from Roberto, Chinese Takeaway beautifully captures Roberto’s angst as he struggles through his Kafkaesque nightmare. Chinese Takeaway is slightly batty, always amusing, and one of the most rewarding wee films to be released this year. It’s definitely one to be savored.

Best Thing: Ricardo Darin’s deadpan brilliance.

Worst Thing: Not understanding Jun’s manic mutterings (unless of course, you speak Mandarin).

See it with: Peking duck

Rating: 4 Stars