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The Legend Is Born: Ip Man

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The Legend Is Born: Ip Man
Original Hong Kong film poster
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese葉問前傳
Simplified Chinese叶问前传
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinYè Wèn Qiánzhuàn
Yue: Cantonese
JyutpingJip6 Man6 Cin4-zyun6
Directed byHerman Yau
Written byErica Li
Produced bySin Kwok-lam
Starring
CinematographyKwong-Hung Chan
Music byChun Hung Mak
Production
company
Distributed byCathay-Keris Films
Universe Laser & Video Co. Ltd. (Hong Kong)
Funimation Entertainment (USA)
Release date
  • 24 June 2010 (2010-06-24)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryHong Kong
LanguageCantonese

The Legend Is Born: Ip Man (Chinese: 葉問前傳) is a 2010 Hong Kong biographical martial arts film based on the early life of the Wing Chun grandmaster Ip Man, directed by Herman Yau and starring Dennis To in the title role. The film was followed by a sequel in 2013, Ip Man: The Final Fight. Though not made in collaboration with Wilson Yip's Ip Man or Ip Man 2, The Legend is Born features several actors who appeared in Yip's films, including Sammo Hung, Louis Fan, and Chen Zhihui. The film also features a special appearance by Ip Chun, the son of Ip Man. Released as Ip Man Zero in German and Dutch-speaking areas.

Plot

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As a child, Ip Man learns Wing Chun from Chan Wah-shun together with his adopted brother Ip Tin-chi and their mutual friend Lee Mei-wai, who later develops unrequited feelings for Ip while Tin-chi develops unrequited feelings for Mei-wai. After Chan's death from an illness, Ip Man continues to learn Wing Chun from his senior, Ng Chung-sok, before eventually leaving Foshan to study in Hong Kong.

In Hong Kong, after a field hockey match, Ip and his schoolmates are racially insulted by a Westerner, which Ip takes offence to. When the Westerner slurs them in Chinese, a further incensed Ip challenges him to a fight and proceeds to defeat him soundly. Following the incident, Ip's notoriety and popularity skyrocket. While getting medicine to treat the Westerner, who he now refers to as a friend, he meets master Leung Bik, who is actually the son of Leung Jan, Chan Wah-shun's teacher. Over the course of his time in Hong Kong, Ip Man learns a more varied and improved style of Wing Chun from Bik that differs greatly from Chan Wah-shun's orthodox style, and his martial arts prowess improves tremendously. Meanwhile, in Foshan, Ip Tin-chi rises to become a prominent businessman under another Wing Chun martial arts association, and Japanese businessmen arrive in Hong Kong.

Ip returns to Foshan after five years away and reunites with his peers. Believing that Ip has disrespected the memory of Chan Wah-shun by deviating from traditional Wing Chun techniques, an angry Chung-sok attacks him; not wishing to hurt his senior, Ip deliberately loses their fight, and their relationship becomes greatly strained as a result. Ip also later falls in love with Cheung Wing-sing, the daughter of the vice-mayor of Foshan. When Mei-wai realises that Ip Man loves Cheung, she accepts Ip Tin-chi's love for her. On their wedding night, her godfather is murdered and Ip is arrested as a prime suspect after being witnessed struggling with him; Cheung lies that Ip was with her the entire evening in order to have him released from jail. Mei-wai later discovers a letter to Tin-chi, revealing his involvement in the murder of her godfather, and informs Chung-sok. Attempting suicide, she is saved by Tin-chi, and they try to leave Foshan but are stopped by the Japanese. Mei-wai is captured and Tin-chi is ordered to kill Ng Chung-sok due to his knowledge of the letter; they also threaten to kill Mei-wai to ensure Tin-chi's co-operation.

At the martial arts association, Ng Chung-sok is defeated by Ip Tin-chi and the Japanese. Ip arrives in time to save Ng Chung-sok from being killed and then subsequently defeats the Japanese and Tin-chi. Tin-chi then reveals that he is actually a Japanese sergeant named Tanaka Eiketsu, and that was sent to China to infiltrate and work as an undercover agent. Ip then rushes off to the pier to rescue Lee. He defeats the Japanese and rescues Mei-wai, who tearfully reveals that she has miscarried Tin-chi's child; meanwhile, Tin-chi performs seppuku to end his life. At the pier, they discover that the Japanese have been smuggling Japanese children to China, possibly as future undercover agents, similar to Tin-chi.

Ng Chung-sok is seen narrating the story of the night to new apprentices at the martial arts association. Ip's son, Ip Chun, is seen among the new apprentices. Ip Man arrives back at the association and is shown married to Cheung.

Awards and nominations

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Cast

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Controversy

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Sin Kwok-lam (Ip Man's son's student and producer) apologized and served tea to Yuen Jo Tong for misrepresenting his grandfather Yuen Kay Shan's reputation and status in Wing Chun history. (In the movie, Yuen Kay Shan was portrayed as Ip Man's younger kung fu brother, not as skillful as Ip Man). This had the Yuen and Yiu families criticize the movie in interviews. After the Yuen and Yiu families voiced their displeasure about Yuen Kay Shan's portrayal in the movie on Ip Man, movie producer Si Kwok Lam and co-producer Ip Chun apologized six times and "served tea" to Yuen Kay San's grandson, Yuen Jo Tong, for misrepresenting, and being disrespectful to, the legendary 1000 death duel champion during the 1920-1950s, Yuen Kay Shan.[3][4]

Production

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The Legend is Born: Ip Man was shot in Foshan.[5]

Release

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The film was released in Hong Kong on 24 June 2010.[6]

Home media

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VCD

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Release date
Country
Classifaction
Publisher
Format
Language Subtitles Notes
REF
26 August 2010 Hong Kong N/A Universal Studio NTSC Cantonese, Mandarin English, Traditional Chinese 2VCDs [7]

DVD

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Release date
Country
Classifaction
Publisher
Format
Region
Language
Sound
Subtitles
Notes
REF
26 August 2010 Hong Kong N/A Universal Studio NTSC ALL Cantonese, Mandarin 6.1, Dolby Digital EX(** "TM") / THX Surround EX(** "TM"), DTS Extended Surround(** "TM") / DTS-ES(** "TM") English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese [8]
13 October 2010 Taiwan N/A NTSC ALL Cantonese, Mandarin Dolby Digital 2.0, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital EX(** "TM") / THX Surround EX(** "TM") English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese [9]
20 December 2010 United Kingdom N/A Metrodome Group (UK) PAL 2 Cantonese, Mandarin English [10]
13 December 2011 United States N/A Funimation NTSC 1 Cantonese, English English [11]

Blu-ray Disc

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Release date
Country
Classifaction
Publisher
Format
Region
Language
Sound
Subtitles
Notes
REF
26 August 2010 Hong Kong N/A Universal Studio All Cantonese, Mandarin DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 EX, Dolby Digital 5.1 EX Traditional Chinese, English [12]
13 October 2010 Taiwan N/A TBA All Cantonese, Mandarin 7.1, Dolby Digital 2.0, DTS-HD Master Audio, Dolby Digital 5.1, Dolby Digital EX(** "TM") / THX Surround EX(** "TM") English, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese [13]
28 January 2011 Germany N/A Splendid Entertainment B Cantonese, German (Dubbed) DTS-HD HR 5.1 German, Dutch Released under the title "IP Man Zero" [14]
13 December 2011 United States N/A Funimation NTSC (DVD) A Cantonese, English (Dubbed) TBA English Blu-ray + DVD combo [15]
13 December 2011 Canada N/A Vivendi Visual Entertainment NTSC (DVD) A Cantonese, English (Dubbed) TBA English Blu-ray + DVD combo [16]

References

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  1. ^ "探古尋源:詠春以柔制剛 子承父業發揚武術精神". TVB NEWS. No. Online. Television Broadcasts Limited. 8 January 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  2. ^ "Ip Man's Son Nominated for Best New Actor". No. Online. M1905.com. 14 June 2010. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  3. ^ "冼国林向阮祖棠斟茶道 (Xi Kwok Lam serves tea to Yuen Jo Tong)". Yang Sing National Newspaper. No. National Print edition. July 2010.
  4. ^ Li, Li (15 July 2010). "《叶问前传》剧组向咏春派道歉 险成"全武行"". No. TV. Yangcheng Evening News. Retrieved 14 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Donnie Yen Has Had Enough of Ip Man". wu-jing.org. Archived from the original on 11 March 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  6. ^ "葉問前傳 The Legend Is Born Ip Man" (in Chinese). Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  7. ^ "The Legend Is Born – Ip Man (VCD) (Hong Kong Version) VCD". yesasia.com. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  8. ^ "The Legend Is Born – Ip Man (DVD) (Hong Kong Version) DVD Region All". yesasia.com. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  9. ^ "The Legend Is Born – Ip Man (DVD) (Taiwan Version) DVD Region All". yesasia.com. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  10. ^ "The Legend Is Born – Ip Man (DVD) (UK Version) DVD Region 2". yesasia.com. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  11. ^ "The Legend Is Born: Ip Man (DVD) (US Version) DVD Region 1". yesasia.com. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  12. ^ "The Legend Is Born – Ip Man (Blu-ray) (Hong Kong Version) Blu-ray Region All". yesasia.com. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  13. ^ "The Legend Is Born – Ip Man (Blu-ray) (Taiwan Version) Blu-ray Region All". yesasia.com. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  14. ^ "The Legend Is Born: Ip Man Blu-ray Region B". Amazon. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  15. ^ "The Legend Is Born: Ip Man (Blu-ray + DVD) (US Version) Blu-ray Region A, DVD". yesasia.com. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
  16. ^ "The Legend Is Born: Ip Man (Blu-ray + DVD) (US Version) Blu-ray Region A, DVD Canada". blu-ray.com. Retrieved 13 December 2011.
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