One of the most difficult things about making The Grandmaster, a film inspired by legendary Kung Fu master Ip Man, was the action sequences. "[Martial artists] will always tell you, if he's the Grandmaster, if he's that good, we never fight for ten minutes. It's only one punch. Or one kick." But filmmaker Wong Kar-wai knew his film couldn't have one minute action sequences, especially when they looked this beautiful: set pieces are a swirl of fabrics and textures, hands and feet, and calculated gestures. The result is a powerful film that emphasizes the specificity and beauty of martial arts.
Banner image courtesy the Weinstein Company