Chinese Take-Away

Roberto runs a hardware store with relentless precision, counting screws in each box and logging every discrepancy. He believes that staying orderly shields him from a chaotic world. To illustrate his point, he keeps newspaper clippings about grotesque mishaps, turning his shop into a quiet museum of the risks of carelessness.

Mari visits the hardware store, hoping to soften his stiffness with the promise of companionship. She is the woman who loves him and longs to share a life with him. Her visits hint at a future beyond routine, a softer path through his carefully arranged world.

A shocking incident unfolds when Jun, a Chinese man, is dumped out of a taxi in front of Roberto's shop. Roberto steps in to help, but the lack of a shared language makes communication nearly impossible. They become accidental collaborators as they try to navigate Jun's predicament.

Their initial attempt to resolve Jun's situation is hampered by the language gap, turning every small step into a cascade of misunderstandings. The effort to help becomes a test of patience and trust as they stumble through miscommunications.

To bridge the gap between them, they search for a translator. They eventually rely on a delivery boy from a Chinese restaurant who can bridge the gap.

Jun explains he came to Argentina to find his uncle, and through their growing conversation, Roberto begins to understand that his own rigidity stems from a deeper wound. The conversation slowly reveals shared loneliness beneath their differences.

Roberto reflects that the Falklands War left him with a fractured worldview and a fear that the orderly universe he cherishes is unraveling. The memory intensifies his sense that chaos might be louder than his need for control.

Roberto shows Jun a disturbing newspaper clipping about a Chinese girl killed by a cow falling from a moving aircraft. The image serves as a stark reminder that tragedy can strike in the most improbable ways.

Jun recognizes the echo of that tragedy in his life, recalling what happened to his fiancée in China. The parallel makes his journey feel personal and urgent.

Their unlikely alliance carries them toward Mendoza, where Jun hopes to locate his uncle. The trip deepens their bond as they navigate unfamiliar landscapes.

Roberto drives Jun to the airport, and Jun boards a plane to reunite with the relative he has sought. The moment marks a bittersweet goodbye as one chapter closes and another begins.

In the wake of Jun's departure, Roberto tries to slip back into his quiet, ordered life, but the experience unsettles him and pushes him to rethink what order means. The encounter leaves him restless, searching for a new sense of purpose.

He travels to Mari’s hometown, hoping to locate her and redefine what order means in a life that has become unexpectedly unsettled. The journey signals a new chapter beyond the shop's shelves.