Hong Kong director John Woo fled his home in California on the evening of January 7th after the wildfires spread. On January 16th, he returned to his luxurious mansion in Los Angeles with his wife and two pet dogs, relieved to find that their house had not been affected by the fire. The precious Guanyin Bodhisattva statue in the courtyard was still standing, bringing them immense comfort.
According to Taiwanese media outlet “Xu News,” John Woo and his wife evacuated their home on the evening of January 7th in their pajamas. They initially stayed at the wife’s eldest sister’s house before moving to their eldest daughter’s residence. Seeing the severe devastation caused by the wildfires in the news, they initially feared the worst for their house. However, upon returning on the 16th with their two pet dogs, they were relieved to see their home unscathed. Though the house was covered in smoke and dust, the Guanyin Bodhisattva statue in the courtyard remained intact, easing their worries. John Woo even joyfully presented a bouquet of yellow roses to his beloved wife.
John Woo expressed that coming back home felt wonderful, almost like being reborn. Seeing the house unharmed lifted a great weight off his shoulders and cleared his mind and body of exhaustion. For their first meal back home, his sister-in-law offered to cook, but he insisted on preparing a meal for his wife himself. With three dishes quickly on the table, the family enjoyed a happy meal together. He reflected that compared to those who have been enduring rough conditions in recent days, they were truly fortunate and content.
After settling in at home, workaholic John Woo was accompanied by his sister-in-law to the office. Currently juggling scriptwriting for four movies simultaneously, he plans to swiftly resume his work mode. As the wildfires have yet to be fully contained, his wife, Lily Ng, is preparing to evacuate again if necessary and has started packing clothing for quick departure.
Lily Ng, who has been busy tidying up since returning home, revealed that on the 17th she started experiencing a sore throat, feeling like her organs had shifted, with a continuous flow of nasal discharge, drowsiness, coughing, and hoarse voice. She suspects that the toxic dust in the yard might be the cause and regrets not wearing a mask while cleaning up initially.
John Woo shared that when they initially evacuated to their eldest daughter’s home, he only brought one pair of pajamas. Besides taking care of meals, their daughter also bought clothes for them. Upon returning home, Lily Ng prepared three sets of pajamas for John Woo. He mentioned that if they need to evacuate again, he now has enough clothes to wear.