Nearly 10 years in the making, Wong Kar Wai’s latest feature to date is perhaps his most ambitious project, a propulsive action epic inspired by the life and times of the legendary kung fu master Ip Man (played by Tony Leung with effortless precision and cool). The story spans the tumultuous republican era that followed the fall of China’s last dynasty: a time of chaos, divided loyalties, and war, but also the golden age of Chinese martial arts. Filmed in a range of stunning locations that include the snow-swept landscapes of Northeast China and the country’s subtropical South, The Grandmaster—presented here in Wong’s original 130-minute cut—features exquisitely staged action and virtuosic performances by Leung and Ziyi Zhang, who lends a transfixing allure to the fictional Gong Er, Ip’s friend and fellow martial artist.

“Wong Kar-Wai’s historic kung fu epic is an exploration of mourning and the loss of tradition, features fight scenes with some of the most gorgeous insert shots we’ve ever seen, and we referenced it constantly while working on the fight choreography for our film. (Thrilled to be screening the original Hong Kong edit of the film, before a US distributor who rhymes with Harmy Crimescene cut out 20 minutes.)”—Daniels