Lucy Liu Honoured with Réalta Award in Belfast
Actress Lucy Liu received the Réalta Award at the Belfast Film Festival for her performance in the new film Rosemead. The Charlie's Angels star expressed how moved she was to be honoured in Belfast, describing the city as "magical" and reflecting on her time filming Old Guy there two years ago.
"I was really touched to be honoured here. To actually live here for that month is different than just coming to visit. I felt very connected to the community, and everyone on the crew was very warm and full of joy."
Liu highlighted the rich history of Northern Ireland and Belfast’s remarkable transformation, saying, "there’s a story behind everything." Her film Rosemead is inspired by a true story about Irene Chao, an immigrant widow with terminal cancer whose teenage son faces mental health challenges. The story is set within the Chinese American community of Rosemead, California.
She pointed out that the themes resonate far beyond the community depicted. Liu noted, "There’s still a lot of stigma around mental health in so many places around the world." She was taken aback to learn that the real events behind the film occurred as recently as 2015, calling the tragedy "preventable."
"There was a lot of fear for this mother, and she loved her son so much. I really tried to come from a place of love and to understand how difficult it must have been for her to make that choice."
The film shines a light on mental health stigma and the deep emotional struggles faced by families.
Summary: Lucy Liu’s acknowledgment at the Belfast Film Festival highlights her heartfelt portrayal in Rosemead, a film addressing mental health stigma through a true and moving story.