Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
A comedy that chronicles a chance encounter between Robert and a Chinese named Jun who wanders lost through the city of Buenos Aires in search of his uncle after being assaulted by a taxi driver and his henchmen.
Chinese Take-Away (Un cuento chino) is a charming Argentine comedy that benefits from a well-crafted odd-couple dynamic between the grumpy, solitary Roberto and the lost Chinese immigrant Jun. The plot is simple but effective, built on culture-clash humor and unexpected warmth. Ricardo Darín delivers a reliably strong performance as Roberto, anchoring the film with his trademark understated charisma, while the supporting cast is solid. The cinematography is functional but unremarkable for a Buenos Aires-set film. The novelty lies in its cross-cultural premise and bittersweet tone, blending comedy with quiet loneliness, though it doesn't reinvent the genre. The ending is satisfying and emotionally resonant without being overly sentimental, delivering a gentle payoff consistent with the film's modest ambitions.