Bridges
Never in my life did I ever think I’d see Tony Leung and Simu Liu in one frame.
The first time I saw Leung on the big screen was when I was 18, in school studying film. There he was, at 32 years old, in Wong Kar Wai’s film, Chungking Express. This was not his first collaboration with Wong and would not be his last. Of course, I did not know that at the time and was eager to tell my parents of my first encounter with Leung.
Leung was no recurring character but he was no stranger to the household. His name had floated around with the likes of Carina Lau, Jackie Chan, Stephen Chow, Andy Lau, and other prominent Cantonese actors. I put Leung on a pedestal, describing him to be an incredible actor and Wong to be an equally daring director. The silence I received in turn confused me.
It came to my attention that perhaps they never thought I'd dive much into Asian cinema, particularly the Hong Kong film industry. There was simply a gap with the childhood of my parents compared to mine. Hollywood to Shanghai. Angelina Jolie to Gong Li. Brad Pitt to Wallace Huo.
There was much excitement when Marvel released the highly anticipated film, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. In a way, it felt like a much overdue project: the construction of a bridge between Hollywood and Asian cinema. Could I help build this bridge in the future? Am I allowed to?
As I explain the film to my parents, they instinctively divide the actors into two groups, one on each side of the bridge. This separation was neither good nor bad, I thought. After all, a bridge is meant to connect.
I find that the entertainment industry thrives at the expense of the celebrities' well-being. Scandal after scandal. Headline after headline. The cast of Shang-Chi was not exempt from this either.
It makes me wonder if such news makes the bridge unstable or even tainted to some. Through the endless controversies, my parents remind me that no bridge is built without hard work and sacrifice.
What was sacrificed to build this bridge?
Cover Photo by Miramax and Jet Tone Production. Edited by Madison Case.
