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| ▲ This photo, provided by Walt Disney Company Korea, shows actor Simu Liu. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Walt Disney Company Korea, shows actress Awkwafina. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ This photo, provided by Walt Disney Company Korea, shows a scene from the Marvel movie "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings." (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap) |
SEOUL, Aug. 30 (Yonhap) -- Canadian actor Simu Liu, who plays Marvel's first Asian superhero in the film "Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings," recently revealed the meaning behind the film during a video press conference with the Korean media on Monday.
Following "Black Panther" (2018), which showcased the first black hero, "Shang-Chi" drew attention for solely focusing on heroes with different skin colors. Although Asian characters have often appeared in Marvel movies in the past, they have only remained supporting characters.
Simu Liu, a Canadian-Chinese actor who is known for his performance in the award-winning Canadian sitcom "Kim's Convenience," emphasized the significance of the film's diversity.
"It's really important that stories of each character, beyond race, are able to be unfolded on the large screen. When I immigrated to Canada, I have never been able to see this kind of picture. Asian characters were mainly in the background, and they weren't multifaceted, but mostly two-dimensional. I believe this movie is a bridge to learn more of (Asia's) culture and a way to show diversity in the world," Liu said.
"I don't often see Asians in movies or media, and in that sense, our movie is meaningful," said Awkwafina, who plays Shang-Chi's old friend Katie. "When I was young, I wanted a hero like Shang-Chi. This is a good movie that shows cultural diversity."
The movie features Asian-colored intense action sequences such as Chinese martial arts that remind the audience of Bruce Lee, as well as Kung Fu which makes the characters seem as if they're dancing gracefully. Liu mentioned he had trained five to six hours a day to learn martial arts and choreography for four months in addition to hour-long weight exercises to shape into character.
"There is a scene where I actually hang on a bus, fall sideways, and then slam into the bus door," Liu recalled while picking the specific scene as his favorite. "I devoted my heart and soul in this scene and it was satisfying to see it on the screen."
Asked about what makes Shang-Chi different from the rest of the Marvel heroes, Liu pointed out the superhero's human-like charm. Shang-Chi, who was trained to be a skilled martial artist from a young age by his father, breaks away to live a normal life. He later realizes his true powers and is reborn as a hero.
"Shang-Chi's has a human-like aspect as he struggles with anxiety and flaws which can be noticed in the film. This part of Shang-Chi's character is something we can all relate to. Until now, Marvel has shown perfect and flawless heroes, but Shang-Chi is a multi-layered and humane character," Liu explained.
Awkwafina also described Katie as "a fun and comfortable character who can be easily approached to, and is likely to be found among any friend groups," adding, "[Katie] is also a symbol of the younger generations of our time who are constantly thinking about what the society and their parents expect of them and what they actually want in life."
The film will be released in Korea on Sept. 1 for the first time worldwide.
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