“Be Water” Promotional Poster
One of the lineups of this year’s Sundance Film Festival is a new documentary about Bruce Lee titled Be Water, which will be released under ESPN’s 30 for 30 banner on Sunday, June 7th at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Award-winning Vietnamese American filmmaker Bao Nguyen directs this profile of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, who left Hollywood in 1971 dejected, but returned to his parents’ homeland of Hong Kong and made four films that changed the movies forever. The documentary combines rare archival interviews with Lee’s loved ones and his own writings (via SLT).
According to Aaken, Nguyen went to the U.S. and Hong Kong to interview people who have known Lee, including his wife and daughter, Linda and Shannon Lee, as well as his brother, Robert Lee (The Lady Killer). Also featured are Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (Game of Death), Dan Inosanto (The Chinese Stuntman) and former Golden Harvest producer, Andre Morgan (Stoner).
“There are so many intimate stories about him as a person that people don’t know compared to the legend, the mythical martial artist,” Nguyen said. “That’s the story my team and I wanted to show. It was difficult because back then, people didn’t have iPhones shooting everything. Finding the archival films and bringing those to new life with the relative interviews. … Building that story from the past was the goal.” (via PR).
Don’t miss Be Water on Sunday, June 7th at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN. Until then, check out the film’s Trailer, followed by a Sneak Peak below:
Awesome! So little is known about Bruce Lee and his life, this documentary is just what the world needs.
Yes , this documentary should show the world that Bruce was a lot more than what people saw in the cinema. There was a lot more to Bruce Lee than just Kung Fu / action film. This great legend actually refined the martial arts of the time ( he is the founder of Jeet Kune Do) and helped establish the image of Asian celebrities in the global movie scene. His heritage later became a personal betterment, an inspiration, an expression, a creation and doctrine that has transcended martial arts. . Bruce Lee was way ahead of his time . He deserves a lot of recognition in this the new generation. His influence transcends martial arts, film, race, and culture . Bruce Lee changed the perception of Chinese culture in the western world and helped to popularize martial arts. Lee was a superstar with fans all over the world who were fascinated by his agility and power. Even today 47 years after his passing, there is no one who can move with the speed , agility and power like Bruce Lee did. If Bruce was here today and in his prime, there is no doubt that he would have dominated the MMA UFC arenas. He was like water , he had no style. He is the founder of Jeet Kune Do ( Way of the intercepting fist. Bruce lee didn’t believe in styles – Here is a quote from Bruce Lee – ” Styles tend to not only separate men – because they have their own doctrines and then the doctrine became the gospel truth that you cannot change. But if you do not have a style, if you just say: well, here i am as a human being, how can i express myself totally and completely? Now, that way you won’t create a style, because style is a crystallization . That way, it’s a process of continuing growth”. – Bruce Lee 2020
#bruceleethelegendthebestever https://www.facebook.com/BruceLee/videos/10160556153990634/
Dude, this one supposedly has actual footage of Bruce Lee getting his ass kicked by a real-life white stuntman circa 1968! 😉
I think his name is Cliff Booth and he caved in the side of a car with Bruce’s body, I also heard he killed his wife. Tarrentino got it sooo wrong! There’s video of Bruce hanging out laughing and joking with the stuntmen on the set of enter the dragon. He always ate with them and refused to eat the food the stars ate. He became “untouchable” and could end a fight in only a few seconds no matter what the size or fighting style.
Since the family is involved I imagine this will not be critical of him in any way.
Just to make it clear on record , Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is so very inaccurate of Bruce Lee . Bruce Lee was nothing like what he was portrayed in this ridiculous scene. For starters , no stuntman in Hollywood could even touch Bruce Lee . Top karate champions in the 60’s and 70’s like Chuck Norris, Jow Lewis were too slow and couldn’t touch Bruce Lee . He gave them tips on how to improve their skills. Everyone in Hollywood and in the Martial arts world was impressed by Bruce Lee . Also, Bruce Lee would have never said anything derogatory about Muhammad Ali because he worshiped the ground Muhammad Ali walked on,” Inosanto told Variety. “In fact, he was into boxing more so than martial arts. Bruce Lee admired Ali for his boxing skills and Bruce even studied Ali’s Boxing . Bruce Lee would review Muhammad Ali’s fights from a projector to absorb Ali’s Boxing skills . #bruceleethelegendthebestever
Are you sure? Cliff Booth seemed to keep up with Bruce. I saw it with my own eyes while watching the movie!
Cliff won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, but Bong got revenge for Bruce by sweeping…
Yes, that’s why the film is called “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” the clue is in the titles, it’s just a fantasy the stuntman, can’t see why people get so upset by it.
Even if it wasn’t a “fantasy” as seen through the eyes of a stuntman, there’s no reason for anyone to get their panties in a bunch for what Bruce was saying or how he got thrown into a car (it’s a ‘movie’).
To me, Moh’s “performance” was the most accurate portrayal of Bruce ever. He doesn’t really resemble Bruce (especially when he takes his glasses off), but he moves and talks like him almost flawlessly.
Remember Cliff Booth the stunt man was fighting with an actor portraying Bruce, but does not have the skills or speed that Bruce had. You can see it in his many films and documentaries without special effects or speeding up the camera. Just ask Chuck Norris, or Bob Wall.
Is Cliff Booth open for interviews? It would be great if we could have an opportunity to ask him. I know he was fighting against an actor playing Bruce Lee in the movie, but he seemed pretty on the ball.
I doubt Cliff even has an email or some kind of social media account. Guys from that era are not social media-ready.
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Theres a great documentary about Anderson Silva called Like Water … It chronicles his journey to the famous 5-round fight against trash-talking Chael Sonnen that resolves itself in an exciting fashion moments before the final bell. The title is a reference to the Bruce Lee quote.
Why do people keep want to argue over the Bruce Lee scene? Every thing in that movie is a fantasy created by the director for the purpose of entertainment. Nothing is real.