Andrew Lau, co-director of the Infernal Affairs trilogy, turns to the life of Zang Jianhe, the woman behind Wanchai Ferry. In the late 1970s, Zang arrives in Hong Kong with two young daughters and little else. She washes dishes, cleans cars, and begins making dumplings by hand near Wan Chai Pier, selling them one batch at a time. The work is exhausting and boring, but it is the beginning of a household name. Ma Li, fresh from her hit turn in Article 20, carries the whole film with humor, with Kara Wai and Zhu Yawen in key roles. From pier to factory floor to boardroom, Dumpling Queen stays close to the grind behind the legend: food, survival, and the years of labor invested in building a great name.