Pohjanjoki is a hamlet in the nowhere of northern Finland. Sirkka runs a restaurant there, which is hurting for business. One day, a Chinese father, Master Cheng, and his young son come to the restaurant. Although Master Cheng doesn’t find the man he’s come to visit, Sirkka finds in him a cook who will pamper the Chinese tourists and indulge the regulars too. And his dishes even seem to have healing properties for the ailing men in the village, so they’re only too happy to welcome him into their community. But then the immigration authorities get wind of Master Cheng … Mika Kaurismäki, a world traveller in all things cinematic, surprises with this warm-hearted comedy with a fine balance of ingredients: plenty of humour, a little melancholy, romantic longing, and a cheery summer flair. They’re combined to create a cinematic culinary delicacy, in which local Finnish colour comes face to face with worldly Chinese wisdom.