- It’s the story of a family man, a teacher, a Kung Fu warrior.
- Beautifully choreographed brutal fight scenes.
- Cinematically gorgeous, with a roller-coaster plot line.
Ip Man is the cinematic biography of Wing Chun Master Yip Man, who was the shifu (teacher) of Kung Fu legend Bruce Lee. The story takes place during the Sino-Japan war in the ancient city of Foshan, which was recreated in Shanghai for filming. It’s a Kung Fu epic in the classic sense: a larger than life Kung Fu master teaches his secrets to the oppressed, who rise up against enemy warlords and reclaim their way of life.
“We wanted to do this movie because Ip Man was a man who inspired the world and society as a whole. He was a man who believed in certain morals and principles, and we want to use this movie as a platform to convey those values to the audience. For me, that was the most important part of making this movie.” —— Director Wilson Yip
The art of Wing Chun is characterized by close body contact, and focuses on deflecting or redirecting an enemy attack. According to the Wiki, “a correct Wing Chun stance is like a piece of bamboo, firm but flexible, rooted but yielding.” Ip Man moves willfully, never overcommiting, balancing speed and power in calculated aggressive and explosive attacks. As noted in the Wiki, “a common Wing Chun saying is ‘greet what arrives, escort what leaves, and rush upon loss of contact,’ regarding the importance of trapping incoming force and advancing quickly when an opening is sensed.” The film’s fight sequences clearly illustrate the difference in fighting styles among opponents and the many ways in which Kung Fu can really f*ck your sh*t up.
