By Daniel Rutledge
Based
on Robert Lee’s memoir of the same name, Bruce Lee,
My Brother chronicles the kung fu superstar’s life
from his birth up to when he left Hong Kong in 1959.
It’s
a wonderful movie which is at times
uplifting, hilarious, sad, romantic and of course showcases some
kick-arse fight scenes. Kung fu cinema fans should be warned however:
this is not a kung fu movie and much more of a straight up
biopic.
The film does draw on inspiration from
classic kung fu cinema and as is the custom, the Westerners display
some appalling acting, which is a bit of a laugh. It’s not too
much of a worry though as the focus is rightfully squarely
focused on the surprisingly interesting life of Bruce Lee.
Although
born into a fairly privileged family, Bruce’s early life
included a number of dramatic incidences including the Japanese
invasion of WWII, troubles with girls and school, fights with
fearsome gangsters and the loss of a dear friend to drug
addiction.
However, it’s not
just Bruce Lee’s life that directors Raymond Yip and Manfred
Wong commemorate in Bruce Lee, My Brother. They
evoke beautifully the food, music, fashion and everyday life of Hong Kong
in the ‘40s and ‘50s.
Watching
this celebration of Hong Kong culture in a cinema filled with loads of
HK ex-pats, preceded by a live martial arts display, was a real treat
and the perfect way to launch this year’s Hong Kong Film
Festival.
For session times and more
information, visit the Hong Kong
Festival New Zealand website.
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