Enter the mysterious ‘Super Group’ whose aim is to absorb all of the rival restaurants into their faceless organisation and control the Asian cooking world. Sun’s only friend at this place of employment proves to be Au’s eccentric daughter Ka Wai (Yuen) who helps him to cope with the pressurised tasks he’s handed. Sun aspires to be a top chef, but finds that he must start at the bottom of the ladder in a busy local restaurant and endure the over-critical treatment of his stern boss Au (Kar-Ying). The story then turns to Hong Kong a while after this initial incident and focuses on the efforts of gang member Sun (Cheung) who attempts to leave behind his criminal past. Racked with guilt and desperation, Kit turns to drink and falls into a permanent stupor, therefore disappearing from the Asian cooking scene. This incident becomes the straw that broke the camel’s back and Kit’s girlfriend leaves him to his first love. At the moment she needs him the most, Kit is busy winning the plaudits at the culinary contest and further enhancing his reputation. His devotion to his craft borders on obsession, however, as his single-minded work alienates the woman he loves. Kit (Bee) ranks as one of China’s best chefs and, after an elite competition, proves himself to be without equal in Asian cooking. Having launched the new-wave martial arts film with ‘Once Upon A Time In China’ to worldwide acclaim, Hark left this popular franchise behind to once more surprise and delight viewers with another refreshing film.
His 1995 film ‘The Chinese Feast’ manages to sit in-between these two thoughts and, on repeated viewings, rank itself as one of his most accomplished works. Most of his films have the stamp of a definite master whereas some manage to reach the level of ‘masterpiece’ and figure prominently in Hong Kong top tens around the world. The former attribute has seen Tsui Hark switch cinematic styles with such ease that he is rightfully considered to be one of the most underrated directors currently working. The latter quality has meant that he has been responsible for such landmark films as ‘Zu Warriors Of The Magic Mountain’ and ‘Once Upon A Time In China’. One of the great qualities that Tsui Hark has as a director is his ability to re-invent himself and the precepts of existing genres.