Lu Chuan on U.S.-China Tensions, New Projects ‘Puffer Fish Girl' and ‘You Are My Daughter,' Plus ‘Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Wildlife Park' Doc (EXCLUSIVE)
Chinese filmmaker Lu Chuan is feeling the strain of deteriorating U.S.-China relations on his latest project, a cross-border custody drama titled 'You Are My Daughter' based on the real-life case of Anna Mae He, a Chinese girl whose custody battle between her biological parents and white foster parents lasted seven years.
'In the beginning, that project goes very smoothly, but all of a sudden, you know, there's a lot of conflicts between these two countries,' Lu Chuan tells Variety during the Cannes Film Festival, where he was promoting his wildlife documentary about the Tibetan Plateau. 'You need all the connection between the two film industries, and cooperation. The situation is really hard now.'
More from Variety
Iranian Director Saeed Roustayee on Making 'Woman and Child' With a Government Permit and Hijabs: I Wouldn't 'Have Been Able to Make a Film of This Scale Underground'
Elle Fanning Declares 'Joachim Trier Summer' at Cannes Amid 'Sentimental Value' Raves, Says She's 'Grown in My Autonomy and Speaking Up' as an Actor
'The Six Billion Dollar Man' Review: Straight-Ahead Julian Assange Doc Looks Pessimistically Toward a Post-Truth World
The director of acclaimed films including 'Mountain Patrol' (2004), 'City of Life and Death' (2009), and 'The Missing Gun' (2002), Lu Chuan has completed the script for 'You Are My Daughter,' which follows two Chinese international students who have a baby in the U.S. but become embroiled in an eight-year lawsuit. The film is based on the book 'Go Home' by Luo Qin, the mother who lived through the real custody battle.
'There's a lawsuit between the Chinese family and the local American family. They're fighting for the baby,' Lu Chuan explains. 'I think there's a lot of misunderstanding between people from two nations. We need to have more communication, more cultural exchange. The movies are the best way to help people understand each other.'
Despite the challenges, Lu Chuan remains committed to 'You Are My Daughter' and is seeking an English-language writer to collaborate on an international version. He's even turned to AI technology as a starting point, using Grok and ChatGPT to create a first draft English adaptation.
Beyond 'You Are My Daughter,' Lu Chuan is developing 'Puffer Fish Girl,' a crime drama that marks a return to his character-driven roots reminiscent of 'Mountain Patrol.'
'It's not a big sci-fi movie. It's not an action movie,' he says of the project, which explores the relationship between a middle-aged man and a girl. 'I'm trying to explore human nature and the relationship between man and woman.'
The filmmaker is also working on an international version of his 2023 sci-fi film 'Bureau 749,' with plans to make it 'more character driven' for global audiences after receiving feedback from international friends through private screenings.
'Sometimes it's really hard for [international audiences] to understand a Chinese story,' Lu Chuan acknowledges. 'I spent quite a long time to digest all the notes. I think most of them are fabulous, so I think it's very necessary for me to polish the content.' The film is being sold by All Rights Entertainment.
Lu Chuan has also directed the iQIYI series 'A Life For a Life,' adapted by Xiong Yuzhen from the novel by Shi Yifeng. The 1992-set series follows two mechanical repairmen detained on theft charges who become prime suspects in a gruesome dismemberment case at a machinery factory in Tiandu City. The story spans 20 years as survivors work to clear one suspect's name and uncover the real culprit.
At Cannes, Lu Chuan was screening 'Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Wildlife Park,' his wildlife documentary about scientists working to protect animals in the Tibetan Plateau's Xining Wildlife Zoo – a two-year passion project that aligns with his environmental interests.
Looking ahead, the director reveals his desire to explore new genres, particularly horror films and road movies. He cites 'Misery' and Stanley Kubrick's 'The Shining' as inspirations, noting that 'Puffer Fish Girl' incorporates horror elements.
Lu Chuan is also developing a road movie script about a couple traveling to the woman's hometown for a wedding ceremony, but the woman has lost her memory. The psychological thriller follows a doctor trying to help her recover her past, only to uncover disturbing secrets.
When asked about his filmmaking philosophy, Lu Chuan offers a surprisingly existential response rooted in childhood fears about mortality. 'I should say the fear of death,' he says. 'When I was maybe 13 or 14 years old, one day at midnight, I suddenly realized all people will die. I was so scared. The curiosity about the truth of life and death – this kind of thought is maybe the true motivation for me to explore in the journey of movies.'
This philosophical approach has guided his choice of projects, with Lu Chuan selecting stories he can personally relate to, including 'Bureau 749,' which was inspired by his son's wish to fly away from academic pressures.
'Unfortunately, most kids, the wings in their heart have been cut off when they grow up,' Lu Chuan reflects. 'They become very practical, very realistic, thinking about money, living, food, and payment. I'm trying to encourage myself to still have the freedom to fly freely.'
Best of Variety
New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week
Emmy Predictions: Talk/Scripted Variety Series - The Variety Categories Are Still a Mess; Netflix, Dropout, and 'Hot Ones' Stir Up Buzz
Oscars Predictions 2026: 'Sinners' Becomes Early Contender Ahead of Cannes Film Festival
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Labubu toy sculpture sold for $150,000 at China auction
A Beijing auction house has sold a four-foot-tall sculpture of a viral plush toy character for more than $150,000, as global demand for the Chinese-designed Labubu dolls reaches fever pitch. The rabbit-like figures sporting mischievous grins began as a character created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, and are made by Beijing-based toy brand Pop Mart. They have been endorsed by celebrities such as Rihanna and Dua Lipa, and fans have queued overnight outside stores hoping to snag one, with analysts pointing to the phenomenon as evidence of China's growing soft power. On Tuesday, a teal sculpture depicting a Labubu character with a furry body and head fetched an eye-watering 1.08 million yuan ($150,260) at an auction held in Beijing, according to the auction house's app. The sculpture is "the only piece of its kind in the world", according to Yongle International Auction. It was offered alongside other Labubu paraphernalia including a brown statue that sold for 820,000 yuan. Pop Mart has over 400 stores globally, including 30 US branches. The worldwide frenzy has seen people go to desperate lengths to acquire their own Labubu. Last month a London branch of Pop Mart suspended in-store sales of the toys, fearing violence from would-be buyers who failed to get their hands on the limited-edition Labubus. In Singapore, CCTV footage captured a family stealing Labubu dolls from a claw machine, according to Singaporean online media outlet AsiaOne. Burglars broke into a store in California last week and took several Labubu dolls along with electronics and other valuables, American news outlet ABC reported. In China, the toys have been promised as freebies for new bank customers -- an incentive quickly shut down by local regulators, according to Chinese media reports. The toys have spawned a booming resale market as well as an online community of fans sharing tips on how to customise their dolls. Knockoffs -- many of which are also made in China -- have flooded online platforms, dubbed "Lafufus" by social media users. tjx/reb/dhc

Business Insider
2 hours ago
- Business Insider
A huge K-pop band is teaming up with the viral ugly toy Labubu
Two giants of Asia — K-pop band Seventeen and viral doll Labubu — are joining forces. Seventeen, one of K-pop's biggest acts du jour, is set to release a new song on June 11, "Bad Influence," produced by Pharrell Williams. Leading up to the release, Williams' online auction site, Joopiter, launched a collaboration with Chinese toymaker Pop Mart to make 14 custom Labubu dolls with Seventeen branding. Labubu, a furry toy with a wide, sinister grin, has taken the world by storm, created massive queues around the world, and made millions for parent company Pop Mart. The company's stock is up about 600% in the past year. The 6.7-inch dolls in the Seventeen collaboration are clad in gray onesies by fashion brand Carhartt and feature neon green fur, a color not seen on a Labubu thus far. They also sport a mixed metal necklace and black toenail polish. "Blending the worlds of collectibles and high fashion, this marks the first official collaboration between Labubu and an international fashion brand—a testament to the creative possibilities born from cultural crossover," Joopiter's product description wrote. Per Joopiter's website, the toys have been listed for a charity auction with an expected bid price of $300 to $500. As of press time, the highest bid price on the dolls was $2,200. Bidding closes in a week. The Labubus are part of a larger collaboration between Seventeen and Sacai, a Japanese luxury fashion brand. The collection also includes a leather jacket, caps, hoodies, and a white T-shirt signed by 11 members of Seventeen. While this is the first official collaboration between K-pop and Labubu, Labubu's ties with K-pop run deep. The toy's popularity is partly attributed to Lisa, one of the four singers from the hit K-pop band Blackpink, who posted the plush toy on her Instagram last April.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Tears, tattoos, Cartier watches: fan frenzy at BTS army discharge
South Korea's Yeoncheon county, just kilometres from the heavily fortified border with the nuclear-armed North, is best known for its honey. But on Wednesday, it was flooded with K-pop supergroup BTS fans. Despite pleas from the band's agency HYBE to stay away from the area where members Jimin and Jungkook were being released from mandatory military service, a screaming, weeping frenzy ensued early Wednesday. Decked out in the band's signature purple, and some even sporting BTS tattoos, fans began gathering at 3 am. Some had flown in from Brazil and Indonesia, eager to catch the first glimpse of the pair after their discharge. As the two BTS stars emerged, fans screamed, cried and hugged each other. Wu Ruohan, an 18-year-old Chinese fan, said this was her "dream come true". Their release means that six of the seven members of BTS have now finished their service. The final member -- SUGA -- is due out on June 21, bringing the group one step closer to reunion and new music. Security moved the cordons to keep fans at bay as Jimin and Jungkook arrived, dressed in camouflage military uniforms, AFP journalists saw. The K-pop idols, who have spent 18 months on the frontline with North Korea serving in the 5th Infantry Division Artillery Brigade, thanked the crowd for waiting for them. "It's been a while since I've been in front of a camera, and I'm a bit embarrassed because I didn't even put on makeup," said Jungkook, who looked slightly flustered at the mass gathering. Jimin confessed they had gone for a 5 am jog, hoping to look their best. The pair bowed to fans and media before getting into a black minivan and driving off, promising to speak on their superfan platform WeVerse later. - 'Not real fans'? - Online, fans bickered about whether it was right to turn up at the bases, against requests from HYBE and BTS. Before they enlisted, the BTS members had knelt during a live broadcast to earnestly entreat their fans not to show up at army bases as they entered military life. "They're not real fans, the boys even knelt and begged for them to not come," one social media user wrote, sharing screenshots of those at the scene, in a seeming effort to shame them. Experts have said the members will likely have a "visual adjustment period" of a few months, while they grow out their military buzz cuts and hone their K-pop look. Even so, fashion enthusiasts were looking for any scraps of personality amid their military attire, seizing on the watch worn by member V who was discharged Tuesday. His Cartier piece was estimated to be worth around 20 million won ($14,649). In contrast, his bandmate RM wore an affordable Casio. But to the disappointment of online sleuths, neither Jimin nor Jungkook wore a watch on Wednesday. On Friday, the seven-member group celebrates the 12th anniversary of its debut, known as FESTA. Fans from around the world are pouring into South Korea for the occasion. On Wednesday, thousands of people were seen outside HYBE's headquarters in downtown Seoul waiting for vans carrying the stars to arrive. While waiting to see their idols, fans sang along to BTS songs and chanted 'Jimin, Jungkook,' as multiple local broadcasters aired the scene live. Local media were seemingly taken aback by the huge interest in the releases and called the reunion a "revival of the K-pop industry". aw-hs-ceb/lb