Be Water

source: Be Water

I would have enjoyed a deeper dive into the death of Bruce Lee. I felt as though they briefly touched on it and moved on. There really was nothing new learned about Bruce here which was a little disappointing. Here is my synopsis on the film: Bruce Lee had come home from 12 years in America in hope to graduate school and become a success. He moved back to Hong Kong where he used to get in a lot of trouble to do Martial Arts or Gung Fu films. He struggled adapting to a very white and racist America. He becomes adopted to the young American life when he begins teaching his Gung Fu class. His students tough him a lot about handling himself in America. America brings in the Chinese to help build the West. They kick them out to restore America by passing laws against the Chinese. This became even worse when WW2 against the Japanese and the Vietnam War caused racial tension against Asian countries in America. Bruce Lee is born in San Francisco, and his dad who is part of the Chinese Oprah introduces and raises Bruce into show business. Shortly after his birth, his family goes to Hong Kong. Grows up with a wealthy family. In Hong Kong, Bruce Lee becomes very famous child actor. And his study's under Y-I-P Man where he becomes his very best student. The world of acting and martial arts begins to get him in a lot of fights and trouble. Bruce Lee was very offended by how Chinese people were portrayed in American and Hollywood. A lot of white people would play them in a monstrous and racist ways,, and the popular roles were played by white people. He came up with the idea of your movements being soft like water but sharp at the same time like a harsh wave. During the time he is studying all the arts he marry's Linda, his white wife. Bruce Lee opened the door for a lot of Asian American's in the country during a time of uprising in America. As everyone was going against the African American Community, the white society starting respecting the mostly silent Asian Community. During Green Hornet, Brandon is born. He did writing and reading while the Green Hornet got canceled he began side work as a stunt coordinator. During the family time while he was studying, he had his daughter Shannon who he absolutely loved and was crazy for. Although money was tight, they were happy. Bruce Lee begins to teach a lot of the famous celebrities and is known as a wise and cool friend to many. Bruce Lee was influenced by the experiments of the 1960's and the challenging of the establishment and styles that make people different and not combining them together. The protest's and American sports was a huge inspiration, including boxing (more so Muhammad Ali). Faced rejection again because Warner Bro's were afraid that the American Audience weren't going to accept his accent as a leading role. He took on Hong Kong as a minor league after constantly only being able to land minor roles. He was recognized by Hollywood for his teachings, but he was a huge star in Hong Kong so he threw all that away to pursue his dream of being a lead. He was viewed as the prodigal son that had returned. Eventually partnered with Hollywood but was very strict and kind of an ass to his American partners to be given creative freedom. Anything spiritual and philosophical in his films was his writing. In 1973 Bruce began collapsing and having severe migraines. He was a strong 32 year old man, they said the painkillers mixed with his heart condition caused him to pass away. It was extreme madness around his death as people mourned his death. Enter the dragon grosses 91 million, and it was saved as culturally significant and stored in the library of world history.

Starts as a straightforward Bruce Lee documentary, pivots into being more broadly about Asian representation (and lack thereof) in Hollywood during its early years, and then shifts back into being more a Bruce Lee focused documentary in its final third. All the content is compelling and interesting- it's really only the somewhat awkward shifting between these two main subjects that holding it back from being more than simply quite good. But would still recommend as a solid documentary, even if you're like me and already thought you knew quite a lot about Bruce Lee- there was so much here that I didn't know, or hadn't really thought about before, a decent range of archive footage and old interviews to back that info up (an approach similar to another 2020 documentary I watched recently, also about an actor who passed away young: Belushi).

I've read all of Bruce Lee's writing from the 1960s. Most are a third-rate re-hash of 10th Century Buddhism as detailed in the Tao Te Ching written by Lao Tzu around 970 AD. Bruce's Wing Chun combat expertise has always been unparalleled, yet the two hour documentary put me to sleep in 40 minutes.

I was born in 1967 in Italy and I perfectly remember as a very young child, seeing posters of his movies and people mimicking his fighting moves. I couldn't understand his movies then but I knew who Bruce Lee was. He did become an international superstar in the end and he indeed made us understand that we are all under the same sky. There were no Asian people in Italy in those times but nowadays it is a truly multi ethnic country where differences are celebrated rather than fought. Bruce did not die invain, God bless him and his family!

There is something about Bruce Lee that fascinates me . A combination of his looks , his screen presence and of course his martial arts has always interested me without being a massive martial arts fan myself. The man crossed boundaries and brought his art into the mainstream and this film highlights that. Rejected by Hollywood, Bruce Lee returned to Hong Kong to complete four films. Charting his struggles in two worlds, Be Water explores questions of identity and representation through rare archive, intimate interviews, and his writings. This isn't a fanboy film . Far from it . This is about how he was brought up in San Francisco and then moved back to Hong Kong and the way he didn't really fit in either place back in 60's . It's not a film about his films although the most influential are mentioned . I learned a lot . I never knew he was a child actor in movies . I never new he was in The Green Hornet TV series in the U.S and most poignantly i never knew he died before Enter The Dragon was released. I now know more about the great Bruce Lee because of Be Water and that has to be a good thing .

Needs to be watched by fans and non fans. Great documentary. Clearly the the fascist / nationalist have been offended by the documentary and they are in denial of the racism and political issues of the USA during the 60s and the 70s era. If the documentary had praised USA giving reason how great USA was in that era, the reviews would have been a lot different.

Learned a lot about Bruce Lee from the documentary, especially his character and determination to expand beyond the limitation of nationality, race and geography. But also get a sense that there is much more not told through the film. Through constant extraction of his philosophical mind set, it lends the film a sense of mystery and levitation from reality, but the way it is constructed is very much just the progression of his career, and you feel there are things missing between the lines. Also, using some modern scenes and sit down interviews or his impacts on society and people, both White and Asians, perhaps could have provided the film with a little more relevance and significance.

With what the world is going through right now this couldn't of come out at a better time! Bruce Lee fought for the little people and for justice he inspired us all. I'm 27 he was taken away way to early way before my time he is forever and will continue to inspire. This documents it very well, It was a bit slow to start with but all and all shear amazing! 10/10

It is currently June 2020 as I sit in my home watching this Bruce Lee story documentary of his life on ESPN 30 for 30 series "Be Water". I reflect on his time over 47 years ago and what he was going through to make his way in the world in his chosen profession and his chosen love of martial arts. Raising his family and struggling in Hollywood to make ends meet. Also showing how he overcome adversity and never gave in to the naysayers. We can all learn a true life lesson from the Bruce Lee story expressed to us from his friends and families perspective. Now for those who would dare to give this story low scores on the ratings. A direct kick to your kneecap for being the bad guy.