Bruce Lee biopic offers authenticity beyond Jeet Kune Do
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Aarif Lee, star of Bruce Lee, My Brother, is deservedly getting a swath of attention for his unforgettable performance as the martial arts master. But there is more to the film's authenticity than a strict training regimen and a dedicated cast.
Inspired by the eponymous memoirs of the legend's younger brother Robert, directors Raymond Yip Wai Man (producer of Bodyguards and Assassins [2009]) and Manfred Wong (producer of Roots and Branches [2001]) sought out Wushu triple gold medalist, 9 year-old Dylan Sterling for the role due to his resemblance to the young Robert Lee and his striking similarities to Bruce Lee himself.
"Working on the movie was great," said soon-to-be 10-year old Dylan Sterling, "I guess I do look a little like Robert. And I had a lot of fun with Raymond [Yip Wai Man] and Manfred [Wong] and Aarif [Lee]. They are like three great uncles and they showed me a lot."
Where Bruce Lee himself was born in San Francisco, Dylan is also a Chinese-American residing in southern China and is, too, an award-winning martial artist, enjoying three gold medals from international Wushu competitions, including gold medal at the Hong Kong International Wushu Championship with 39 countries and regions participating.
And where the real brothers Lee bended conventions and together won a Cha-Cha competition in Hong Kong, so too are Dylan and Aarif accomplished dancers, having preferred to show off their own command of the Cha-Cha instead of relying on stand-ins for the scene!
Focusing on Robert's constant companionship to elder Bruce during a turbulent period of the icon's life—from studying nightly at the same table to Robert's recurring service as a living training dummy for the aspiring master martial artist—the film is set to bring Bruce Lee's enduring mystique to a whole new generation of filmgoers.
Bruce Lee, My Brother premiered in Hong Kong on November 11 and will open in Mainland China on November 25.
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