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IMDbPro

Be Water

  • 20202020
  • 1h 45m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
Bruce Lee in Be Water (2020)
Take a first look at 'Be Water,' a 30 for 30 film that intimately chronicles Bruce Lee's life and complex journey, which premieres on Sunday, June 7th at 9pm ET on ESPN
Play trailer1:27
1 Video
4 Photos
Documentary
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 a... Read allRejected 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.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.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
1.8K
YOUR RATING
    • Bao Nguyen
  • Stars
    • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
    • Linda Lee Cadwell
    • Dan Inosanto
    • Bao Nguyen
  • Stars
    • Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
    • Linda Lee Cadwell
    • Dan Inosanto
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 22User reviews
    • 25Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards

    Videos1

    First Look Trailer
    Trailer 1:27
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    Photos

    Be Water (2020)
    Bruce Lee in Be Water (2020)
    Be Water (2020)
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    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
    Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
    • Self
    Linda Lee Cadwell
    Linda Lee Cadwell
    • Self
    Dan Inosanto
    Dan Inosanto
    • Self
    Diana Lee Inosanto
    Diana Lee Inosanto
    • Self
    Nancy Kwan
    Nancy Kwan
    • Self
    Bruce Lee
    Bruce Lee
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
    Jan-Fai Lee
    Jan-Fai Lee
    • Self
    Shannon Lee
    Shannon Lee
    • Self
    Andre Morgan
    Andre Morgan
    • Self
    Jay Sebring
    Jay Sebring
    • Self
    • (archive footage)
      • Bao Nguyen
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      The documentary claims that Bruce Lee developed the series 'Kung Fu' for Warner Brothers and was turned down for the lead at the last moment and replaced by David Carradine, when in reality 'Kung Fu' was created by Ed Spielman & Howard Friedlander, Bruce was given the chance to audition for the show as did Mako, George Takei etc. Bruce's project was 'The Warrior' which later served as the inspiration for the Cinemax series 'Warrior' which lasted for 2 seasons.
    • Connections
      Features The Orphan (1960)

    User reviews22

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    10/10
    A Hero Worth Idolizing
    The inspirational value of Bruce Lee is best expressed by his response to the question of whether he thought of himself as Chinese or American. "You know what I want to think of myself," he said, "as a human being." Bruce Lee was a man who spent his entire life building bridges; between styles of martial arts, between cultures at odds with one another, and between inner and external philosophies. He felt that true strength comes from within, and that by recognizing that strength, as well as all the flaws that coexist alongside it, one can achieve greatness despite all odds. Bruce Lee is a hero worth idolizing because he did not see himself as one. He did not view himself as a star, or a saint. He was true to himself, accepting the good with the bad. He was confident, but not conceited, wise, but not condescending. He was a man who fought for all he achieved, and deserved every ounce of his success.

    It is essential, given the current climate of racial injustice in the United States, that a documentary about a man who played such a role in dismantling prejudice against Asian-Americans take all the racial factors involved into full consideration and treat them respectfully and knowledgeably, and this documentary does exactly that. It is about Bruce Lee, yes, but more importantly it is about the struggle that he and so many Asian-Americans face even today. It is a story of a man who was able to raise himself above it all, against all odds, and prove to the world that an Asian man could outshine any leading actor, and that by virtue of his determination was equally if not more deserving of the superstardom so often relegated to the white Hollywood elite.
    helpful•7
    5
    • eliotar6998
    • Jun 8, 2020

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    • Release date
      • June 7, 2020 (United States)
      • United States
      • United Kingdom
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    Technical specs

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    • 1 hour 45 minutes
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