On July 12th (Saturday) at 6 pm, the world premiere of the documentary “Lisa Lu Plays Herself” produced by the American Chinese Arts Association will be held at The Walter Reade Theatre at Lincoln Center. The film will comprehensively showcase the artistic journey of Chinese-American actress Lisa Lu spanning across East and West, and through the centuries, portraying how she has witnessed and shaped the historical cross-cultural image from Peking Opera stage to Hollywood.
Lisa Lu, 98, was honored with the “Lifetime Achievement Award” by the American Chinese Arts Association at an award ceremony held on July 10th. She is set to attend the New York Asian Film Festival’s “Opening Weekend Gala” at David Rubenstein Atrium in Lincoln Center on July 12th, where she will receive the Vanguard Award and Lifetime Achievement Award.
In her speech, Lisa Lu expressed that her acting career has been the most dedicated pursuit in her life, and she hopes to continue acting. Her most satisfying performance was playing Empress Dowager Cixi in the 1975 film “The Last Emperor”. This role earned her the Best Actress award at the 12th Taiwan Golden Horse Awards. She also reminisced about her career before debuting, working as a librarian, newspaper journalist, and hospital financial director. In 1960, she gained recognition for her role in the American film “The Last Aristocrat”, paving her way to fame in Hollywood.
Born in 1927 as the daughter of a renowned Peking Opera artist Li Gui Fen and adopted by opera legend Mei Lanfang, Lisa Lu’s path to the stage was interrupted due to family changes and wars. She later moved to the United States, settling in Hawaii in 1947 before restarting her performing career in California, participating in numerous significant Hollywood productions and pioneering Chinese-language films, becoming one of the first successful Chinese-American actresses to cross over between East and West. Despite her age, she continues to actively engage in front of the camera, demonstrating an endless artistic vitality.
Through interviews, archival footage, and poetic visual language, “Lisa Lu Plays Herself” depicts how she continues to explore the possibilities of self and stage between Eastern and Western cultures. Producer Zhou Longzhang mentioned that the film had a long preparation period and faced disruptions due to the pandemic, including financial difficulties and changes in shooting plans. After five years, the film was finally completed, and it is now a precious historical record to present the life of their close friend Lisa Lu on the big screen.
Director Mei-Juin Chen stated that the film originated from a quote by Lisa Lu: “Foreigners see me as a foreigner, Chinese people also see me as a foreigner, and everyone is indifferent to me.” This quote reminds us to not only recognize her public achievements but also to pay attention to her internal conflicts of identity and belonging. She hopes that through this documentary, audiences can understand the true portrayal of older generations of Chinese immigrants, showcasing the efforts behind their achievements. Mei-Juin Chen’s works focus on the collisions of different cultures and immigrant mentalities. Currently, she is working on a narrative film related to India and Taiwan, looking forward to meeting the audience soon.