Chinatown can be a magical place to fall in love.
Director Bing Liu makes this case in his new film, “Preparation for the Next Life,” shot on location in New York City’s Queens borough. The young protagonists, Aishe and Skinner, build a believable connection as they run through brightly lit shops, sample food carts and dance in bars.
But beyond the beauty of the cinematography is a deeply layered look at not only interpersonal relationships, but the complexity of living on the fringes of American society. Aishe is an undocumented Uyghur immigrant seeking safety and stability, and Skinner is a U.S. Army veteran grappling with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Showing at Alamo Drafthouse Wrigleyville through Sept. 10, “Preparation for the Next Life” is Liu’s first narrative film. The Rockford native previously examined toxic masculinity and cycles of violence with his Oscar-nominated documentary, “Minding the Gap,” in 2018. Now, he is turning his lens on the immigrant experience.
“I wanted to add to the pantheon of narratives that touch on immigration,” said Liu, 35, who was born in China. “How do people continue to find a reason to keep going? When the American dream falls apart, what happens after that? How do you rebuild? I wanted the film to raise that question, which in some ways isn’t necessarily what people are talking about in terms of U.S. immigration policy right now. But I do think that question isn’t going to go away.”
Distributed by Amazon MGM Studios, “Preparation for the Next Life” is based on a 2014 novel by Atticus Lish. The screenplay was written by Martyna Majok, and the alluring cinematography was handled by Ante Cheng. Brad Pitt serves as an executive producer. Liu said he was surprised to see so much support for a project featuring a Uyghur character.
The Uyghurs are a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority of China. Aishe, portrayed by Uyghur actress Sebiye Behtiyar, toils diligently in underground kitchens, striving for economic security. Liu said he wanted to show the “spiritual and emotional cost” of that reality, especially without a strong community or sense of belonging.
“I saw my mom work in Chinese restaurants when we first moved here, and she eventually bought a car, house and a fur coat, because she thought that meant something materially,” he said. “But I would also see her in front of the computer playing Solitaire for hours at a time.”
Aishe’s struggles are compounded by her relationship with Skinner (Fred Hechinger), who is stifled by medical issues and emotional limitations. Both characters were forced to grow up fast, and they lack role models for healthy romantic partnerships, Liu said. Whether they can sustain a life together and achieve their own personal goals for fulfillment is one of the film’s major plot lines.
Liu said he navigates the volatile nature of the film industry by focusing on his mission: to create stories that make a difference.
Though he studied English at the University of Illinois Chicago, he gained on-the-job film training as a camera assistant in Illinois. One of his game-changing gigs was working in DeKalb County on the set of “At Any Price,” starring Dennis Quaid and Zac Efron.
“That movie was like trial by fire for me,” Liu said. “All the other camera assistants in Chicago came on for additional camera days and saw how hard I worked and that I was capable. And I just never stopped getting calls to work on things.”
Following “Minding the Gap,” Liu teamed up with Joshua Altman to direct “All These Sons,” a documentary about gun violence on Chicago’s South and West sides. He said he hopes to tell more local stories and continue to highlight diverse communities, even amid attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion.
“Unfortunately, I think there is a pendulum swing away from films and narratives about communities that are ethnic minorities,” he said. “Almost all the projects I’m working on have at least one Asian American character in them.”
But he said he is committed to staying the course.
“I don’t want to be reactionary,” he said. “I want to make evergreen work that is going to stand the test of time, say something about the human condition, call truth to power and make the world a better place.”