IP MAN 4, THE FINALE

Hong Kong/China, 2019, 107 minutes, Colour.

Donnie Yen, Scott Adkins, Danny Kwok-Kwon Chan, Kent Chen, Yue Wul, Chris Collins, Vanda Margraf.

Directed by Wilson Yip.

This is the fourth in the series of portraits of Ip Man, directed by Wilson Yip. Audience response has been varied, some disappointed in the later films, the audiences wanting much more action. Others interested in the career and life of Ip Man, and especially of his legacy, his dignity, and a visit to the United States in the 1960s – and the themes of American bigotry against the Chinese (some commentators thinking that this was over down in this film).

Donnie Yen continues his performance as Ip Man, ageing, a strong reputation, admiring students but with rebellion at home, his teenage son not wanting to study at his father’s urging, upset at the death of his mother, refusing communication with his father. A delegation comes from the United States, from Bruce Lee, to invite Ip Man to a martial arts tournament. He accepts the invitation, even after hearing the diagnosis of his cancer. He also intends to find a school in the United States for his son, relying on referrals and letters of recommendation, especially from the Chinese Board in San Francisco. He appears before them, they are hostile to the idea of communicating Chinese martial arts beyond Chinese and there is a clash between it man and the head of the board, Wan.

Ip Man visits to school, has discussions with the principal, needing a letter of recommendation from the Chinese Board but the suggestion that he give $10,000 to support the school and become a member of the Board. He also encounters the daughter of the head of the Chinese Board, bullied at school, Ip Man defending her – and the consequences for an angry American girl, bigoted, complaining to appearance, enlisting the help of her father who works for immigration and who organises a raid on the Chinese Board, taking Wan as a prisoner.

On the one hand, there are fights throughout the film to satisfy the martial arts audience, especially fights between Ip Man and Wan and, finally, a climactic fight with the bigoted American Marine.

On the other hand, there is reconciliation with his son and the promise to teach him martial arts and not insist on his going to the US. The film ends with the son filming Ip Man and his techniques so there will not be lost. And, before the final credits, a collage of scenes from the previous films, a resume of Ip Man’s life and career.

And the information that the American marines have incorporated the Chinese techniques into their training.

1. Audience knowledge of Ip Man, his life, career, martial arts, family? The four films in the series with Donnie Yen, the finale?
2. The Hong Kong settings, the 1960s, homes, martial arts schools? The United States, San Francisco, Chinatown, the Chinese community, costumes, decor, the martial arts settings? The Marines, training, fighting locations? The musical score?
3. Donnie Yen as Ip Man, the four films, changes, ageing, personal life, relationships, the schools, the students, the clashes, competitions, Bruce Lee, Bruce Lee in the United States, the invitation for Ip Man to come to America for the tournament? His clashes with his son, his son’s rebellion? The demanding father, better education? Friendship with Bob, Bob caring for Jin, the nightly phone calls, Ip Man and his attempts to find a school, letters of recommendation, clashes with the head of the Chinese Association, defending his daughter from bullying?
4. Ip man and his reputation, the Chinese martial arts and their skills, seeing them in action? The fights throughout the film? Ip Man fighting with Wong? The American Marines, the clashes, karate versus the Chinese martial arts, the American Marines, the fights?
5. Themes of Chinese-American relationships, the 19^th century, the goldrush, the building of the railways, the prejudice against the Chinese? 20^th century, San Francisco, American superiority, condemning Chinese inferiority? Superiority over the traditions, the martial arts? The Sergeant Major, the American champion, bigotry? Department of immigration, targeting the Chinatown community? The dialogue for the film, expressions of bigotry, Chinese pride?
6. Ip Man son, age, death of his mother, rebellion, not wanting to study, surly to his father, not answering the phone, Bob making demands on him? Bob telling him about the cancer, the boys weeping, talking on the phone, his father’s return, the reconciliation and apologies, the boy wanting to study Chinese martial arts, his father instructing him, filming the moves so they would always be available?
7. Ip Man, his age, the doctor, the cancer? His surviving for several years, death in 1972?
8. The Chinese community in America, the numbers, wanting to be exclusive, Wan and his severe rule, the meeting with Ip Man, the committee, Ip Man and his defiance, making the Chinese martial arts available beyond China, the role of Bruce Lee? The refusal to write the letter of recommendation?
9. Ip Man visiting the school, the principal, the suggestion of giving $10,000 and becoming a member of the board?
10. The owner, school, the cheerleaders, her success, Becky’s jealousy, Becky and the bullying, taunts, the young men, brutalising Yonah? Ip Man’s arrival, the confrontation, defeating the young men, their fleeing? Becky at home, complaining to her mother, the mother’s phone call to the father, his return, Department of immigration, discussion with the Marines, the raid, the African-American policeman (and his initial visit to Hong Kong and the encounter with Ip Man and the students, fighting them, the invitation for Ip Man to come to the US)? The warning about the raid, the arrest of one, imprisonment? His being handed over to the Marines?
11. Yonah, affection for Ip Man, forging the letter for the school, his tearing it up, wanting honesty? His encouraging her in her ambitions?
12. Bruce Lee, student in Hong Kong, coming to America, the schools, his students? His role in this film, in the 1960s, Seattle and his school, moving into the media? His fight sequences?
13. The Marines, the challenge to Wan, the fight, defeating him, making the Marines applaud, Wan taken to hospital?
14. The information for Ip Man, the defeated Chinese, Ip Man arriving, the Marines watching, the fight with the Sergeant Major, the ups and downs of the fight, Ip Man and his superiority?
15. The final information, the collage of sequences from the previous films and outlining Ip Man’s life and career? And the acceptance by the American forces for Chinese martial arts and their incorporation into training programs?