movie review master cheng

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• by Jake Johnson
• Posted on July 18, 2020 October 5, 2020

Master Cheng (Mestari Cheng) – Film Review

“Sometimes you have to try new things.”

This delivered line very much sums up exactly what Finnish-English-Mandarin language drama Master Cheng is about. Directed by Mika Kaurismäki and written by Hannu Oravisto, this is a film about stepping outside of your comfort zone, having new experiences, and introducing ourselves to universal food as a way of healing and allowing the kindness of strangers into your heart. I very much enjoyed watching Master Cheng and found myself smiling and emotionally engaged throughout.

After the unfortunate death of his wife, restaurant owner and Chef Cheng (Pak Hon Chu) and his young son Nunjo (Lucas Tsang) decide to travel to a small village in Finland for a break away from the harsh reality they are in. Cheng knows an old friend of his, Fongtron ,who lives on a farm in the Finland countryside and decides it’s time to pay him a visit after having met a long time ago at Cheng’s home in Shanghai.

Although Cheng is unsuccessful with the locals for any help in finding his friend, he and his son are kindly offered accommodation from Sirkka (Anna-Maija Tuokko) , the local café owner of the remote village. In return, Cheng decides to cook the townsfolk the deliciousness of Chinese cuisine as the town are mostly only familiar with sausage and mashed potato being served on a daily basis. While Sirkka decides to help Cheng in his search for this mysterious Fongtron , the clock is also unfortunately ticking close to the end of his tourist visa, unless the villagers can come up with an idea to not only keep Cheng , but also his delicious Chinese food that everyone has taken a liking to.

I have to say, this movie made me quite hungry and in the best way possible. I loved watching Cheng passionately create and proudly serve up his Chinese cuisine for the Finland locals, which all of them loved, and it all looked absolutely delicious, too! But more importantly, Master Cheng isn’t so much about showing us how tasty and nice-looking food can be, but is more about food from different cultures can help bringing people together. It’s Cheng’s culinary art of Chinese food that really puts people back in well spirits and helps people connect. Master Cheng is all about love and friendships that are created along the way, and is beautiful to watch and witness the story unravel.

The cast of Master Cheng all deliver, but it’s Pak Hon Chu and Anna-Maija Tuokko as Cheng and Sirkka , respectively, that stand out. The two of them have amazing on-screen chemistry together and are a joy to watch every single time.

Cinematographer Jari Mutikainen also manages to showcase the most breathtaking shots of Finland in the countryside throughout the film. Seeing Cheng and Nunjo overlook the hills and forest in the countryside, the views are absolutely gorgeous, establishing Finland at its best and showcasing the beauties that the country has to offer. It even makes me want to take a leaf out of Cheng’s book and visit myself!

Anssi Tikanmäki , who composed the music, incorporates some gorgeous tracks that are very pleasing and calming to the ear, particularly the tracks that are played by the most traditional Chinese instrument that you would be most familiar with, the erhu. These stunning pieces play frequently throughout the film and fit the mood and feel of Master Cheng perfectly. I couldn’t help but put a smile on my face every time I heard it.

The only thing I can say I was not awfully on board with was how long the film was. At a running time of 114 minutes long, I feel Master Cheng could have been trimmed down a little bit. It’s not a film that bores you towards the end by any means, but I did feel that it started to overstay its welcome a little with some lingering character development that could have been cut or condensed down. It’s not something to put off anyone, but just keep in mind this movie isn’t a quick watch.

I highly recommend Master Cheng to anyone and everyone, especially if you’re in the mood to watch a movie that just makes you happy and feel warm inside. In a world that feels a little scary and dark at current times, this movie will definitely put a smile on your face and make you forget about the real world, just a little bit.

Master Cheng is out now in select cinemas nationwide.

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Master Cheng (Film Review)

A Yellow Affair

Following the death of his wife, Cheng (Pak Hon Chu) travels with his son Niu Niu (Lucas Hsuan) to Pohjanjoki, a remote traditional village in the Finnish countryside. He wants to find a man he knows as Fongkong, and repay him for the help he gave in paying off debts and restarting his restaurant. When Cheng arrives, no-one has heard of Fongkong, the nearest hotel is 40 miles away and as the diner they have taken refuge in begins getting ready to close, he is a bit stuck for what to do. Thankfully, the diner owner Sirkka (Anna-Maija Tuokko) is a kindly sort, and offers him a room in her home for the night.

They rattle on happily, communicating with each other in broken English, with Cheng bringing his cooking skills to the local community. In a place where previously every day was sausage day, his recipes healing the populace and bringing a new spring to Sirkka's business. Cheng and his son find a new happiness here, and a relationship blossoms between him and Sirkka.

There are some minor conflicts, both are recovering from a loss, and there is some question over Cheng's legality in Finland . These are minor though, and are resolved without too much hardship. The focus of the story is the melding of the two cultures, the food bringing them together and the resolution of the affection between Cheng and his son. There is real warmth here, with Cheng being a character who is almost too perfect in his patient determination to help everyone around him without pay.

There is a risk of Master Cheng feeling saccharine, but this is combatted by the absolute believability that a delicious meal can right all wrongs, along with some genuinely charming humour, wordplay, and miscommunication. There is no emphasis on one culture over another either, as they both learn from each other and form an almost idyllic balance.

Jari Mutikainen's cinematography takes in the expanses of the Finnish landscape, with wooden buildings butting up against enormous forests and lakes. The score from Anssi Tikanmäki starts inspired by northern European folk, with Chinese accents slowly creeping in as Cheng settles into his new home.

Director Mika Kaurismäki has encouraged earnest performances from his cast with the affection between them feeling real and honest, helped along by Hannu Oravisto's script, which is unpretentious and believable.

Master Cheng is a sweet and enjoyable feelgood film, just what we need in a world where conflict is everywhere.

Master Cheng will be in UK Cinemas from 11th March

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Master Cheng review – Chinese chef does Finland in odd-couple foodie drama

When a widower washes up in a remote Finnish town with his son, his culinary skills enchant the locals and mesmerise the camera

F innish director Mika Kaurismäki (elder brother of Aki Kaurismäki) gives us a well-intentioned if watery and bland drama, a decently performed but tepid heartwarmer which can be filed under that dodgiest of sub-headings: “foodie”, that is, something with a supercilious tendency to showcase delicious-seeming food as a shortcut to being life-affirming and life-enhancing.

A Chinese widower called Cheng (played by Hong Kong actor Pak Hong Chu) shows up out of the blue in a remote Finnish town with his young son Niu Niu (Lucas Hsuan), and walks into a roadside cafe run by Sirkka (Anna-Maija Tuokko), who is listlessly serving up dull grub for the locals. With no Finnish and only halting English, Cheng asks everyone in the place if they know of “Fongtron”: this mysterious person or business is the reason he’s here. No one can help (and weirdly, it doesn’t occur to anyone to use Google Translate to help with their communication difficulties).

Well, Sirrka lets Cheng and his boy stay in a room in her house and, to pay her back, Cheng offers to cook delicious Chinese food for the Chinese tourists who at the moment are deterred from spending their cash in her place because of the unappetising slop she’s offering. Cheng turns out to be a professional chef in Shanghai, with a terribly sad reason for being in Finland . Cheng’s food is a runaway hit, and there’s a spark between him and Sirrka.

This is a reasonable enough film, though underpowered, and the truth about “Fongtron” is very perfunctorily revealed and then dismissed. And then there’s the lovingly slow, pointless shots of the food itself, especially over the closing credits. Where’s the bite?

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Film Review: Master Cheng

Reviewer: jane darcy.

Writer: Hannu Oravisto

Director: Mika Kaurismäki

Master Cheng is a delightful Finnish film set in Lapland. A sign outside Sirkka’s Diner announces it’s Sausage Tuesday. Inside a handful of older inhabitants nurse beers or queue to have ladlefuls of sausage and mash slapped on their plates. In walks Cheng (Pak Hon Chu) and his young son, Niu Niu (Lucas Hsuan) like visitors from outer space. There’s the language barrier – no one recognises the name ‘Fongtron’ which seems to be all Cheng knows. But there’s also a cultural one. When kindly Sirkka (Anna-Maija Tuokko) gives Niu Niu food, the child pushes away the plate in disgust. The pair seem to have no where to go, but meekly follow Sirkka to modest accommodation she offers.

It turns out it’s always sausage day at Sirkka’s. The locals seem content enough, but things change when a busload of Chinese tourists arrives who turn up their noses at sausage and mash. Cheng steps in, buys noodles, chicken and a few spices and in no time the tourists are happily tucking in. The locals watch warily. Sirkka, meanwhile, counts the takings and invites Cheng to continue to cook.

There follows a series of charming scenes. Hardened old men are gradually won over by Cheng’s polite manners and become curious about his cuisine. Unknown to them, Cheng is a master chef, fleeing from problems in Shanghai. He sources fresh ingredients and, amazed to discover the local lake is pure and unpolluted, starts fishing. Next thing Romppainen (Kari Väänänen), lead local, is staring at lake-caught perch floating in a delicate broth. Is it safe to eat? His mate Vippula (Vesa-Matti Loiri) isn’t going to risk it: ‘A white heterosexual male wouldn’t eat that’. The camera lingers on Rompainen’s weathered face as he tastes his first mouthful. It lights up in rapture. There’s an echo of the scene in Babette’s Feast when sour Lutheran locals tentatively sip their first glass of superb vintage wine. And like Babette’s Feast , Master Cheng is about the profoundly transformative effect of good food created with love. It seems to have almost magical healing properties.

You could happily watch any number of scenes like this. There’s a lovely one where the local primary school teacher brings in a class, anxiously listing allergies and intolerances. Next thing we see the children transfixed in the kitchen as delicious spices are fried and added to great vats of fragrant soup. The food itself looks fabulous and you could swear that you can smell it too.

The story tracks Cheng and Niu Niu’s gradual integration into the community. Niu Niu is at first withdrawn, plaintively asking if they’ll see his mother again and Cheng has a rigid side, angrily forbidding him to ride a bike. The expected transformation happens because cultural assimilation works both ways. Romppainen and Vippula want to show Cheng their ways and introduce him to a sauna. Sirkka meanwhile persuades Cheng to attend a local tango class.

All of this takes place in the endless summer days of the Arctic Circle. Jai Mutikainen’s cinematography is beautifully restrained, capturing long, soft twilights in a land where reindeer browse the forests. The sound too is quiet – sometimes just a remote bird or the unshowy music of a single instrument. An enchanting film.

Master Cheng will be in UK cinemas from 11th March.

The Reviews Hub Score:

Enchanting feast of a film.

The Reviews Hub - Film

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Master Cheng

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Mika Kaurismäki

Anna-Maija Tuokko

Pak Hon Chu

Vesa-Matti Loiri

Kari Väänänen

Lucas Hsuan

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Master cheng, mestari cheng.

Directed by Mika Kaurismäki

Cheng, 45, a restaurant owner from China, has travelled with his young son halfway around the world to a remote village in Finland. His wife died recently in an accident, and Cheng wanted to have a break from everything by traveling with his son to see an old Finnish friend who lives on a farm in the countryside of Finland. It’s the most remote place Cheng can imagine with endless forests, thousands of lakes, a country with entire population of one-fifth of Cheng’s home town, Shanghai.

Chu Pak-Hong Anna-Maija Tuokko Lucas Hsuan Kari Väänänen Vesa-Matti Loiri Paula Miettinen Hannu Oravisto Jonne Kaaretkoski Helka Periaho Kari Koivukangas

Director Director

Mika Kaurismäki

Producers Producers

Mika Kaurismäki Iain Brown

Writer Writer

Hannu Oravisto

Editor Editor

Tuuli Kuittinen

Cinematography Cinematography

Jari Mutikainen

Assistant Director Asst. Director

Mika Purola

Executive Producer Exec. Producer

Miira Paasilinna

Lighting Lighting

Sami Mäntymaa Tatu Tuominen

Additional Photography Add. Photography

Andrus Prikk

Production Design Production Design

Maria Ylätupa

Visual Effects Visual Effects

Hugo Kiekeben Tero Malinen Ville Koivuranta

Composer Composer

Anssi Tikanmäki

Sound Sound

Olger Bernadt Heikki Kossi Pietu Korhonen Anne Tolkkinen

Costume Design Costume Design

Anna Vilppunen

Makeup Makeup

Marjut Samulin

QianJi Culture Co. Ltd. By Media Marianna Films

China Finland UK

Primary Language

Spoken languages.

Chinese English Finnish

Alternative Titles

Mesterkokken Cheng, Master Cheng in Pohjanjoki, 郑师傅, 世界で一番しあわせな食堂, Mistrz Cheng, 마스터 쳉, O Tempero da Vida, Mojster Čeng, El Sabor de la Vida

Drama Comedy

Releases by Date

22 oct 2022, 27 sep 2019, 17 jul 2020, 30 jul 2020, 11 mar 2022, 14 nov 2019, 20 aug 2020, 07 jan 2021, 19 feb 2021, 10 mar 2022, 27 jan 2020, releases by country.

• Digital 12 Cinema Virtual
• Theatrical K-7
• Physical K-7
• Theatrical 6

South Korea

• Premiere 12 Seoul International Food Film Festival

Switzerland

• Theatrical PG

114 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Stephen ★★★

There’s something about films about food and chefs – the joy of a good meal exquisitely prepared is such a comforting thing, no wonder it has been used so many times as a gateway to drama.

In Mika Kaurismäki’s Master Cheng we have the twin comforts of Chinese chef Cheng’s wholesome and attractive dishes and the sumptuous landscapes of Finland which create a movie that at times feels more like a travel show than a drama. This is chiefly because there isn’t much drama to be had. Any conflict is resolved almost immediately and painlessly, and everyone is very pleasant and ends up loving Chinese food. You can predict how it’s going to go almost from the opening shots.

Review by Toni ★½ 2

Review by C_elegans ★★★★

Zwischen all dem Netflix-Crab, den ich in der letzten Zeit gesehen habe, wirkt dieser Film wie eine Rückkehr zum echten Kino. Eigentlich erzählt er dabei gar keine besondere Geschichte und ist tatsächlich nichts anderes als ein Feel-Good-Movie, das keine größeren Konflikte aufkommen lässt. Aber diese ehrliche finnische Unaufgeregtheit ist so viel authentischer als die ständig nervöse und doch meist inspirationslose Schose der Streaming-Charts, dass der Film vergleichsweise als Genuss daher kommt. Dazu reichen dann eben auch schon sympathische Figuren, ein wenig Culture-Clash und ein nicht zu unterschätzender Anteil an Food-Porn.

Review by kingfrais ★★★★

Nach den überwiegend großen Enttäuschungen, die ich zu Weihnachten diesen Jahres zu sehen bekommen habe, war es einfach mal wieder nett, eine wirklich schöne und herzerwärmende Feel Good - Komödie aus dem Herkunftsland meiner Mutter zu sehen. Von Anfang an stimmt die Chemie zwischen den Figuren. Weitgehend klischeefrei, mit einem schön realitätsnahen Bezug auf finnische und chinesische Traditionen. Also, ich finde es wundervoll, wie sich hier mit Stereotypen auseinandergesetzt und ein Beitrag zur Völkerverständigung geleistet wird!

Review by V. Lepistö ★★½ 2

Not as bad as I thought - cheesy but atmospheric and sympathetic. Worst cliches are avoided although one would get pretty one-dimensional view of Finnish and Chinese culture from this film as sides of both culture are exoticized to an extent. Because of beautiful score by Tikanmäkis and two sung songs accompanied with accordion (one in Finnish, another in Chinese), I started wishing that this would have been shot as a Finnish-Chinese musical - that would have certainly been something as the sound world of the film already hints.

Review by Cinema Strikes Back 🟣 ★★★★

Beschissener deutscher Titel, aber berührendes finnisches Feel Good-Drama.

Review by Omri Rublev ★★★★★ 2

最終，我們都在尋找自己的 Fongron。 程可能是電影史上最成功的人物形象。 他使用他精湛的烹飪技巧卻發現他唯一的慾望已經死了。 這個元素反映了我們自然無意識的人類行為。 我們都在尋找豐創。

無論如何，我很高興能有幸欣賞這部輝煌的 35 毫米標準版電影傑作。

https://youtu.be/qGk4E9ss95s

Review by tilde ★★★★½

i've got some äijjä business to take care of (romanticise lappi forever and ever)

Review by kappanuki ★★★★

This movie was like herbal soup for my soul. It's warm, comforting, and gentle. It's like taking long slow breaths and enjoying the simple pleasure of life. It combines two of my personal loves in the most unlikely way: Chinese cooking and the Finnish countryside. The marriage of Finnish and Chinese principles surprised me with how similar certain aspects are and they actually mesh really well. Having experienced both ends to some degree, yet not wholly belonging to either culture made this watch extremely fun and really charming. I'm genuinely surprised that they got actual Chinese actors who speak the language. I'm too used to American garbage.

It's not particularly exciting, with a predictable storyline and no stressful incidents or…

Review by anny777 ★★★★

a breather for your heart. real life funny and touching.

the whole movie holds a beautifully resonating warmth - the dialogues are familiar and everything between the lines even more so. the acting in this is outstanding. 

watching this movie is truly a momentary break from all your problems. probably one of the most feel-good feel good movies.

Review by Jannik1887 ★★★½

Review by dets77 ★★★

20.07.2020 Sneak Cinestar 20 Uhr Kino 8

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Master Cheng (2019)

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Cheng, 45, a restaurant owner from China, has travelled with his young son halfway around the world to a remote village in Finland. His wife died recently in an accident, and Cheng wanted to have a break from everything by traveling with his son to see an old Finnish friend who lives on a farm in the countryside of Finland. It’s the most remote place Cheng can imagine with endless forests, thousands of lakes, a country with entire population of one-fifth of Cheng’s home town, Shanghai.

Mika Kaurismäki

Hannu Oravisto

Top Billed Cast

Chu Pak-Hong

Anna-Maija Tuokko

Lucas Hsuan

Kari Väänänen

Vesa-Matti Loiri

Paula Miettinen

Police officer

Jonne Kaaretkoski

Helka Periaho

Full Cast & Crew

• Discussions 0

A review by CinemaSerf

Written by cinemaserf on april 4, 2022.

Pak Hon Chu ("Cheng") and his young son "Niu Niu" (Lucas Hsuan) get off a bus in a rural Finnish town looking for a fellow called "Fongtron". None of the locals have ever heard of this chap, and they seem to be stranded. Luckily, local diner owner "Sirkka" (Anna-Maija Tuokko) has spare room. Now her diner is not exactly gourmet! Sausages and mash are the staple (only) thing on the menu. When a busload of Chinese tourists are stuck when their bus breaks down, she offers to feed them but they are less than impressed with the fayre. Enter "Cheng" who raids the local supermarket and manages to prep... read the rest.

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Original Title Mestari Cheng

Status Released

Original Language Finnish

Budget $3,350,000.00

• chinese immigrant

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MASTER CHENG

by  Mika Kaurismäki

Following the death of his wife, professional chef Cheng travels with his young son to a remote village in Finland to connect with an old Finnish friend he once met in Shanghai. Upon arrival, nobody in the village seems to know his friend but local café owner Sirkka offers him accommodation and in return Cheng helps her in the kitchen surprising the locals with the delights of Chinese cuisine. Gradually his cooking encourages these vastly different cultures to connect and Cheng is soon a celebrated member of the community. Unfortunately his tourist visa is soon to run out and it's up to the villagers to come up with a plan to help him stay.

more about: Master Cheng

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Master Cheng

• Following the death of his wife, professional chef Cheng travels with his young son to a remote village in Finland to connect with an old Finnish friend he once met in Shanghai.
• Following the death of his wife, professional chef CHENG travels with his young son to a remote village in Finland to connect with an old Finnish friend he once met in Shanghai. Upon arrival, nobody in the village seems to know his friend but local café owner Sirkka offers him accommodation and in return Cheng helps her in the kitchen surprising the locals with the delights of Chinese cuisine. Gradually his cooking encourages these vastly different cultures to connect and Cheng is soon a celebrated member of the community. Unfortunately his tourist visa is soon to run out and it's up to the villagers to come up with a plan to help him stay.
• Cheng, 45, a restaurant owner from China, has travelled with his young son halfway around the world to a remote village in Finland. His wife died recently in an accident, and Cheng wanted to have a break from everything by traveling with his son to see an old Finnish friend who lives on a farm in the countryside of Finland. It's the most remote place Cheng can imagine with endless forests, thousands of lakes, a country with entire population of one-fifth of Cheng's home town, Shanghai.

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Master Cheng Reviews

• 1 hr 54 mins
• Drama, Comedy
• Watchlist Where to Watch

Cheng, 45, a restaurant owner from China, has travelled with his young son halfway around the world to a remote village in Finland. His wife died recently in an accident, and Cheng wanted to have a break from everything by traveling with his son to see an old Finnish friend who lives on a farm in the countryside of Finland. It's the most remote place Cheng can imagine with endless forests, thousands of lakes, a country with entire population of one-fifth of Cheng's home town, Shanghai.

'35' movie review: A heartfelt love letter to childhood curiosity

Debutant director Nanda Kishore Emani is a master craftsman at noticing minor nuances of life. The team behind 35 has undoubtedly produced a winner, and this film is more than just weekend entertainment. In an age where films compete to display the most spectacular feats conceivable, here comes a film that takes a gentle, mindful walk through a spiritual garden, seeking to capture even the smallest nuances. It’s been a while since we’ve seen a film about childhood that feels poetic yet straightforward.

In Tirupati, the idyllic life of Prasad (Vishwadev Rachakonda) and Saraswati (Nivetha Thomas) with their young children becomes tough when their eleven-year-old son, Arun (Arundev Pothula), finds mathematics to be an impossible mystery. The story follows Saraswati, a mother who dropped out of school, as she guides her son through the subject while keeping his curious spirit alive.

It’s not graceful to sum this film up in a single phrase since its beauty lies in the details. The textures in the grading, the velvety edit, and the grounded performances blend together like sweet nectar. This film is not about a high-stakes conflict or a dramatic adventure, rather, it depicts a way of life in a small town family. We seldom see the small town regions of Telangana and Andhra in cinema. Through the lens of cinematographer Niketh Bommi, Tirupati looks like a blissful place. Furthermore, with the enchanting work of musician Vivek Sagar, the narrative almost grants you a spiritual escape.

Many threads in the film flow beautifully, such as the husband-wife relationship, the rivalry with the mathematics teacher (played by a beloved Priyadarshi), peer camaraderie, and childhood restlessness. The gentle romance between Prasad and Saraswati is a beautiful page out of many scriptures. Prasad, played by Vishwadev Rachakonda, reveals the earnest depth that many fathers hold. As the filmmaker has remarked in several interviews, the marriage is depicted in metaphorical parallels with Sita and Ram or Shiva and Parvathi. There is no villain in this story. Neither the father nor the maths professor is a harsh disciplinarian. And the best part is that the film never tries to preach a message about how toxic the education system is or how dictatorial teachers are; it’s a purely humane narrative.

Also, how blessed we are to get to witness a performer like Nivetha Thomas. Those tiny moments as she navigates the ebbs and flows of her house, the way she plays chess with her son, gets her husband ready, tastes the bits of the dish she so lovingly makes, and engages in the curious questioning of her children, all while mouthing the Chittoor dialect, make for moments of fine art. Nivetha rises above the mechanical debate of other-language actors working in Telugu. She goes beyond just doing the job; it’s always the stars she seems to be aiming for. Though it’s obviously a treat to watch her as the master of this universe, the director goes above and beyond, providing additional delight in the form of Arundev Pothula, who plays Arun. Arun is a dynamic character straight out of a Telugu novel because he is more than just a troubled child; he is an active, never-giving-up, bright-eyed kid who has the courage to tackle any zeroes and minuses life throws at him. And those guts come from his formidable mother.

For a brief moment, I felt like the only person in the packed dark theatre hall as Saraswati, the tenth-failed mother, explains to her restless son why zero, while having no value, determines the worth of a number simply by being adjacent to it. It is commendable how the film immerses you in the micro-world of children while also delivering a payoff. Children’s world is always full of questions since they are constantly absorbing from every moment of life. The tender attention required as a child grows and learns the essentials of life is something that not many adults possess. But writer Nanda Kishore Emani delves beyond the surface in a way that is maddeningly beautiful. If you are to nitpick, the philosophical dialogue gets repetitive, but even this would work for most.

Transporting a viewer to another world is an act many films can pull off, but transporting you to your own world and making you win—now that is an act that filmmakers seem to have forgotten. And films like 35 have the audacity to come around these cynical times and sweep you off your feet. Take some time, go watch this film with family, and come back beaming.

Cast: Nivetha Thomas, Priyadarshi Pulikonda, Vishwadev Rachakonda, Arundev Pothula

Director: Nanda Kishore Emani

Rating: 4/5

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The ambiguity of his true motives leaves room to ask ourselves a question: ‘Why do we lie?’ “Marco would often defend himself by saying, ‘I’m a liar, but who isn’t?’ And he’s right to some extent. Everyone tries to sell their best version of themselves, and filmmaking is also a kind of manipulation. We wanted to show this, by mixing different formats and blurring the lines between fiction and documentary.” says Garaño.

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