Translated Title: Ip Man / The Grandmaster Ip Man
Title: Ip Man
Year: 2008
Country: Hong Kong, China
Category: Action/Biography/History
Language: Mandarin
Subtitles: Chinese
Runtime: 106 Mins
Director: Wilson Yip
Cast: Donnie Yen as Ip Man, Simon Yam as Zhou Qing Quan, Hiroyuki Ikeuchi as Miura, Ka Tung Lam as Li Zhao, Siu-Wong Fan as Jin Shan Zhao, Xingyu Shi as Master Zealot Lin, You-Nam Wong as Shao Dan Yuan, Chen Zhi Hui as Master Liao, Sammo Hung, Mallika Sherawat, Lynn Hung
Introduction:
In the 1930s, in Foshan, the capital of Chinese martial arts, the martial arts scene was thriving. Various schools frequently held group competitions to demonstrate their strength and attract disciples. Ip Man (Donnie Yen), though highly skilled in martial arts, remained humble and did not open a school to teach students. He stayed at home, researching and practicing martial arts with his friends behind closed doors.
Led by Jin Shanzhao (Siu-Wong Fan), a group of northern martial artists sought to make a name for themselves in Foshan by defeating the various schoolmasters. In order to gain recognition from the people of Foshan, Jin Shanzhao challenged the apolitical Ip Man, forcing him to fight at all costs. Encouraged by his wife Zhang Yongcheng (Lynn Hung), Ip Man stepped up and defeated Jin Shanzhao with his proficient Wing Chun techniques. This victory sparked a strong enthusiasm for Wing Chun in Foshan.
However, good times didn't last long. The outbreak of the Sino-Japanese War led to the fall of Foshan. The Japanese occupied the Ye family mansion, forcing Ip Man to relocate his family to a dilapidated house. Despite the harsh living conditions, Ip Man faced life positively, changing his attitude as a wealthy young man and working hard at a coal factory to support himself. While the Chinese were quietly persevering, a group of Japanese soldiers came to provoke trouble. The interpreter accompanying the Japanese officer Satō turned out to be Li Zhao (Ka Tung Lam), a former Foshan police officer.
Japanese General Sanba (Hiroyuki Ikeuchi) was obsessed with martial arts. He offered rice as a reward, inviting Chinese people to the arena to spar with the Japanese army so he could observe Chinese martial arts. Wu Chilin (Xingyu Shi), a friend of Ip Man, insulted Sanba at the arena and was brutally beaten to death. When Ip Man went to the arena looking for Wu Chilin, he witnessed Master Liao being unreasonably shot dead by Satō. Overwhelmed with anger, Ip Man vented his frustration in the arena, fighting against ten Japanese soldiers and severely injuring them. Impressed by Ip Man's skills, Sanba expressed his anticipation for a match with Ip Man.
Ip Man's close friend Zhou Qingquan (Simon Yam) was extorted by Jin Shanzhao, who had become a bandit. To support his workers, Zhou decided not to abandon the factory, making Ip Man realize that everyone has a mission. Therefore, he stayed at the cotton mill to teach the workers Wing Chun for self-defense. When Jin Shanzhao attacked again, the workers, led by Ip Man, resisted with Wing Chun. These humble workers were able to drive away the bandits with their own fists, greatly boosting their morale.
Sanba led troops to the cotton mill to capture Ip Man, demanding that he teach Chinese martial arts to the Japanese army. Unwilling to be a traitor and determined to restore the dignity of the Chinese, Ip Man openly challenged Sanba, aiming to awaken the unity of the Chinese people with his fists. Highly confident, Sanba accepted the challenge to protect his reputation. In order to ensure Sanba's victory, Satō secretly set up ambushes. Unaware of the danger, Ip Man fought fiercely with Sanba's karate using Wing Chun. The two engaged in an intense and deadly battle on the arena.