Director Lulu Wang who catapulted herself to the A list of Hollywood with The Farewell is wondering aloud why a White director has been chosen to direct a biopic about a Chinese classical pianist.
The Journey of a Thousand Miles is the story of world renowned pianist Lang Lang and is based on a story from Lang himself and David Ritz.
“As a classically-trained pianist born in China, I believe it’s impossible to tell Lang Lang’s story without an intimate understanding of Chinese culture + the impact of the Cultural Revolution on artists & intellectuals + the effects of Western imperialism. Just saying,” Wang tweeted.
Wang went on to compare the situation of Ron Howard directing Journey of a Thousand Miles to Niki Caro directing Mulan. Mulan has been criticized for its cultural misrepresentations and historical inaccuracies.
She maintains she does not want to direct Journey of a Thousand Miles, that’s not her reason for bringing it up.
Imagine Entertainment has not responded to Wang’s comments. Howard is behind such good movies as Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind.
Wang’s Farewell won praise for its accurate cultural representation and the nuances it accurately portrayed in both Chinese and Chinese American cultures.
AsAmNews has Asian America in its heart. We’re an all-volunteer effort of dedicated staff and interns. Check out our new Instagram account. Go to our Twitter feed and Facebook page for more content. Please consider interning, joining our staff, or submitting a story.