Chinese Take-Away (2011)

In the heartbeat of Buenos Aires, Roberto, a pragmatic and somewhat embittered loner, thrives on the orderly existence he has meticulously carved out for himself. He is the sole proprietor of a humble hardware store, his personal sanctuary, and finds peculiar solace in hoarding bizarre news clippings from around the globe, a testament to his belief in life's inherent absurdity. However, Roberto's fortress of solitude crumbles when he stumbles upon Jun, a bewildered young Chinese man, stranded and expelled from a taxi while Roberto observes airplanes descend from their skybound journey. Jun, a foreigner in a strange land, is unable to speak a word of Spanish, his only lifeline a tattoo bearing an address etched onto his arm. The address, a faded relic of the past, leads them to a place once owned by Jun's uncle, only to reveal it was sold three and a half years prior. Feeling an uncharacteristic pull of empathy, Roberto embarks on a fruitless search with Jun, traversing the city's labyrinthine streets, the police station, the Chinese embassy, and even a Chinese neighborhood, all in the pursuit of Jun's elusive uncle. As their quest proves futile, Roberto finds himself offering Jun a place in his home, a disruption that turns his previously controlled existence on its head. Their coexistence, albeit begrudging, unfolds a series of unexpected incidents that force Roberto out of his meticulously maintained comfort zone. As he secures a delivery boy to bridge the language barrier, Jun's poignant story of life unravels, intertwining their fates in an unlikely bond. Tempered by time and shared experiences, will Roberto's hardened shell crack to reveal a heart capable of connection, or will the absurdity of life prove his beliefs right?

Chinese Take-Away is a comedy movie featuring Ricardo Darín and directed by Sebastián Borensztein.

Chinese Take-Away is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on Kanopy.