The Rockford native and UIC graduate's latest movie is opening this weekend. "Preparation for the Next Life" reflects the spirit of survival and new beginnings.
A migrant from China bonds with a troubled American war veteran. Both are wounded, but determined to heal with their hopes.
Bing Liu first came to Chicago with artistic promise that took him all the way to the Oscars. "Preparation for the Next Life" mirrors his journey.
"Well, I think what an immigrant experiences moving here and what a returning veteran experiences moving here is a sense of being an outsider, a sense of living life on the fringes of society and struggling with people who might not understand what they're going through," Liu said. "Particularly I connected with the fact that she worked her way up Chinese restaurant kitchens, and tried to get a foothold in this country, that's what my mom did when she first moved here."
With all the heartbreak in the story, there's also tenacity and hope.
"I just want to advocate for the people who are trying to struggle to make a life here while also acknowledging that there's a cost to trying to make life here," Liu said. "One of the things that defines her character is that she is so determined to make her dream come true, that she will stop at nothing to make that happen."
The director reflected on how the tough circumstances of his younger life helped him in making movies
"And, you know, I grew up throughout my childhood and adolescence essentially of being told I'm not worthwhile. You know... I don't deserve love, you know, and I what I have to say, it doesn't matter," Liu said. "I got into this business to make a difference in the world, you know? I felt like I was able to do that in Chicago."
He also reflected on if this is the life he dreamed of or if the dream found him.
"I feel like sometimes I just have to pinch myself to remind myself this is my life now," Liu said. "We got PBS funding, we got into Sundance, we got nominated for an Oscar, Brad Pitt and Barry Jenkins' companies are producing my next film. It's like dream after dream after dream. I think there is a short amount of time, relatively speaking, that we're given on this earth. And if you're lucky, something happens in your life that makes you have to answer the question, what am I going to do with that time that I'm given?"
"Preparation for the Next Life" will play exclusively at the Alamo Drafthouse Theater in Wrigleyville. First showings start Thursday.
The film is already stirring up such great early buzz, Liu could be seen at the Academy Awards again, and it all started in Chicago.