Life's many twists and unexpected turns come to the fore in this evocative drama by director Mika Kaurismäki. Following the death of his wife, professional chef Cheng travels with his young son to a remote village in Finland to connect with an old Finnish friend he once met in Shanghai. Upon arrival, nobody in the village seems to know his friend but local café owner Sirkka offers him accommodation. In return Cheng helps her in the kitchen surprising the locals with the many delights of Chinese cuisine. Gradually his cooking encourages these vastly different cultures to connect and Cheng is soon a celebrated member of the community. Unfortunately, time on his visa is running out and it is up to the villagers to come up with a plan to help him stay.