Not one, but two of the most talented and incredible Asian actresses came to grace our Castro Theatre on Friday April 29th of the SF International Film Festival, and it was a night of laughter, tears, introspection, and even dance.
The incredible Sandra Oh was the honorable host to legendary Michelle Yeoh, sitting across from each other and sharing wine before a vibrantly venerating packed house.
See also: Dakota Johnson And Director Cooper Raiff On Their Film "Cha Cha Real Smooth"
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Regarded by New York Times film critic A.O. Scott as “one of the great international movie stars of the past quarter-century” Yeoh's evening began with a heartfelt introduction, warming up her extolling fans with a full montage of her achievements and prolific career in film.
Snippets of her greatest dialogue and authentic stunts were seamlessly compiled from her iconic roles commanding the camera in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Yes, Madam (1985), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Crazy Rich Asians (2018), and more.
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The latest addition into Yeoh's triumphant repetoire is this year's highly-acclaimed Everything Everywhere All at Once, directed by Daniels in which she delivered a complex, riveting, and immaculate performance as Evelyn Wong. Along with costar Ke Huy Quan who also did most of his own stunts, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Stephanie Hsu playing her queer daughter Wong tries to understand her.
Sandra Oh made sure to unpack not only Yeaoh's take on the film's dynamics and portrayals of Asian culture, intergenerational trauma, and unique multiverses (even the hotdog-fingered one), but also Yeoh's connection to this masterpiece, and all her previous achievements leading up to it.
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After an amusing comedic act of Sandra scooting in both chairs on stage to ensure a comfortable and heart-to-heart conversation, she began right into elucidating on Yeoh's childhood and initial pursuit of acting.
Michelle started with a background in ballet, as she "comes from traditional parents who wanted the boys to go to kung fu, and the girls to do ballet." After agreeing to fly to Hong Kong later on and starring in a commercial with Jackie Chan, she realized she loved fight acting in kung fu movies, relating the intricate choreography to that of dance.
"I wanted to be part of the boy's club," Yeoh declared, saying she was intent on building her career. At the beginning it was really about doing that, then I realized I really did enjoy it, she reflects before giving the audience a laugh, "I mean how often does a warrior woman beat down other guys?"
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When speaking on her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once, she described the importance of teamwork into actualizing the Daniels' vision. "We all literally linked hands and believed in each other. We inspired each other and really truly just looked at each other and dove into the everything bagel." This bagel is the creative black hole which her character Evelyn tries to combat from within all her many multiverse versions.
See also: The San Francisco International Film Festival Premiered With A Star-Studded Screening And Afterparty
From one universe where she is a highly successful actress, to one where she is a sentient rock with googly eyes, Yeoh felt the most impactful was her realistic role of an ordinary laundromat owner. Similar to her discussion in NPR's Code Switch episode, she aimed to emphasize the power older Asian women who look like "your aunty on the bus" have when it comes to their family's immigrant experiences.
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The two phenomenal women also deeply covered the topic on generational differences immigrant parents often have with their children's lifestyle and choices, such as Evelyn trying to connect with her queer daughter. Oh insightfully commented to this, "that's something in our community that we're learning to build within ourselves, is to want for the parents to give some space to understand," which Yeoh also directed, "you have to be you and forge your path."
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Lastly, forging her own path is something both Yeoh and Oh are masters on with their own each numerous accolades, performances, and successes. When answering our question on what advice Yeoh would give to someone relating to Evelyn trying to find happiness in another universe and not being present in her own, Yeoh said:
"I think that is the gift for us to be present, to live your life, because the minute you start sitting there thinking of other things then the time is passing and you are already losing those present moments. We are what we are, failures, or success, or mistakes, but that makes us stronger and better, and I think that's what we have to do, is to seize the moment and just live it."
View this post on Instagram
After this thorough, thoughtful, and intimate discussion between these two amazing women, they ended the night in a spectacularly San Francisco fashion- with a lighthearted dance party! Channeling Michelle's background and passion in dance, Sandra insited on reverberating Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" throughout the theatre.
View this post on Instagram
By putting the perfect fun cap on an otherwise serious and reflective conversation, these outstanding women created an interactive and appreciative moment with their many fans and made a night for the festival to remember unlike any other.
Photography by: Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images
Not one, but two of the most talented and incredible Asian actresses came to grace our Castro Theatre on Friday April 29th of the SF International Film Festival, and it was a night of laughter, tears, introspection, and even dance.
The incredible Sandra Oh was the honorable host to legendary Michelle Yeoh, sitting across from each other and sharing wine before a vibrantly venerating packed house.
See also: Dakota Johnson And Director Cooper Raiff On Their Film "Cha Cha Real Smooth"
View this post on Instagram
Regarded by New York Times film critic A.O. Scott as “one of the great international movie stars of the past quarter-century” Yeoh's evening began with a heartfelt introduction, warming up her extolling fans with a full montage of her achievements and prolific career in film.
Snippets of her greatest dialogue and authentic stunts were seamlessly compiled from her iconic roles commanding the camera in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), Yes, Madam (1985), Tomorrow Never Dies (1997), Crazy Rich Asians (2018), and more.
View this post on Instagram
The latest addition into Yeoh's triumphant repetoire is this year's highly-acclaimed Everything Everywhere All at Once, directed by Daniels in which she delivered a complex, riveting, and immaculate performance as Evelyn Wong. Along with costar Ke Huy Quan who also did most of his own stunts, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Stephanie Hsu playing her queer daughter Wong tries to understand her.
Sandra Oh made sure to unpack not only Yeaoh's take on the film's dynamics and portrayals of Asian culture, intergenerational trauma, and unique multiverses (even the hotdog-fingered one), but also Yeoh's connection to this masterpiece, and all her previous achievements leading up to it.
View this post on Instagram
After an amusing comedic act of Sandra scooting in both chairs on stage to ensure a comfortable and heart-to-heart conversation, she began right into elucidating on Yeoh's childhood and initial pursuit of acting.
Michelle started with a background in ballet, as she "comes from traditional parents who wanted the boys to go to kung fu, and the girls to do ballet." After agreeing to fly to Hong Kong later on and starring in a commercial with Jackie Chan, she realized she loved fight acting in kung fu movies, relating the intricate choreography to that of dance.
"I wanted to be part of the boy's club," Yeoh declared, saying she was intent on building her career. At the beginning it was really about doing that, then I realized I really did enjoy it, she reflects before giving the audience a laugh, "I mean how often does a warrior woman beat down other guys?"
View this post on Instagram
When speaking on her role in Everything Everywhere All At Once, she described the importance of teamwork into actualizing the Daniels' vision. "We all literally linked hands and believed in each other. We inspired each other and really truly just looked at each other and dove into the everything bagel." This bagel is the creative black hole which her character Evelyn tries to combat from within all her many multiverse versions.
See also: The San Francisco International Film Festival Premiered With A Star-Studded Screening And Afterparty
From one universe where she is a highly successful actress, to one where she is a sentient rock with googly eyes, Yeoh felt the most impactful was her realistic role of an ordinary laundromat owner. Similar to her discussion in NPR's Code Switch episode, she aimed to emphasize the power older Asian women who look like "your aunty on the bus" have when it comes to their family's immigrant experiences.
View this post on Instagram
The two phenomenal women also deeply covered the topic on generational differences immigrant parents often have with their children's lifestyle and choices, such as Evelyn trying to connect with her queer daughter. Oh insightfully commented to this, "that's something in our community that we're learning to build within ourselves, is to want for the parents to give some space to understand," which Yeoh also directed, "you have to be you and forge your path."
View this post on Instagram
Lastly, forging her own path is something both Yeoh and Oh are masters on with their own each numerous accolades, performances, and successes. When answering our question on what advice Yeoh would give to someone relating to Evelyn trying to find happiness in another universe and not being present in her own, Yeoh said:
"I think that is the gift for us to be present, to live your life, because the minute you start sitting there thinking of other things then the time is passing and you are already losing those present moments. We are what we are, failures, or success, or mistakes, but that makes us stronger and better, and I think that's what we have to do, is to seize the moment and just live it."
View this post on Instagram
After this thorough, thoughtful, and intimate discussion between these two amazing women, they ended the night in a spectacularly San Francisco fashion- with a lighthearted dance party! Channeling Michelle's background and passion in dance, Sandra insited on reverberating Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" throughout the theatre.
View this post on Instagram
By putting the perfect fun cap on an otherwise serious and reflective conversation, these outstanding women created an interactive and appreciative moment with their many fans and made a night for the festival to remember unlike any other.
Photography by: Miikka Skaffari/Getty Images
