'Rosemead' Exclusive Interview: Lucy Liu

Moviefone speaks with Lucy Liu about 'Rosemead'. "The fact that this project was based on a true story crushed me and it was heartbreaking to read."

Lucy Liu stars in 'Rosemead'.

Opening in theaters on December 5th is the new drama ‘Rosemead’, which is based on a true story and directed by Eric Lee and starring Lucy Liu (‘Kill Bill: Vol. 1’) and Lawrence Shou.

Rosemead

Not Yet RatedDrama

Release Date: Dec 5, 2025

Run Time: 1 hr 37 min

Starring: Lucy Liu, Lawrence Shou, Orion Lee

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Lucy Liu about her work on ‘Rosemead’, her first reaction to the screenplay and the true story it is based on, her approach to her character, her character’s relationship with her son, and working with director Eric Lee.

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Lucy Liu stars in 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.

MF: To begin with, can you talk about your first reaction to the screenplay and true story that it is based on and as a producer and actress why you wanted to tell this story?

Lucy Liu: This project was just heartbreaking when I read it. The fact that it was based on a true story crushed me. I signed on for many different reasons. I think one of them was that this is a movie that is just not in the lexicon for our community, and I think it's a universal message behind it. For that reason alone, it was crucial because I think that there's so many other movies that are made about women or about families, but not for our community.

MF: Can you talk about how you prepared both emotionally and physically for this role?

LL: I think the preparation beforehand with the language was the most taxing part of it. But it also brought me into the performance because I was able to tether the performance to my own lineage and my history of my family, of where they came from, where their parents came from, and the struggle and the trauma of coming over to this country. Also then having to deal with racism and stigmatism and the separation of what this woman felt from her own community, I think was what was so devastating to me.

(L to R) Lucy Liu and Lawrence Shou star in 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.

MF: Can you talk about the relationship between Joe and his mother and what it was like creating that on screen with Lawrence Shou?

LL: Lawrence did an unbelievable job. This is his first foray into feature films. He's incredibly talented and just a wonderful person. He's all new and he's just open and receives anything around him. I think for me, working together on this project, most of the people in it were from the Asian community and most of the people spoke the language. It was just a really nice place to be after being in the business for over 30 years and seeing how intimate and how special it could be. It also opened conversations within our own crew about our own personal stories of things that we've experienced, whether it was mental health or otherwise. So, I haven't had that very often because normally you're busy running around, kicking down a wall or whatever it is, or climbing a wall. So, it's nice to have a nice connection with people in a different way, in a more intimate way.

MF: Finally, can you talk about your experience collaborating with director Eric Lee on set both as a producer and actress?

LL: Eric was able to really start from page one, and he came on very early and he was able to really digest it, and he has his own personal stories about why he wanted to do this movie. So, I think understanding that everyone had a struggle from somewhere, he was able to weave that into this movie and make it authentic and make it something that was able to be received in a way, and to gently bring that performance out of all of us without forcing it. He really understood the ability to generate what he needed in a kind and beautiful way.

Director Eric Lin on the set of 'Rosemead'. Photo: Vertical.

What is the plot of ‘Rosemead’?

In a race against time, an ailing woman (Lucy Liu) is stricken by the discovery of her teenage son’s (Lawrence Shou) violent obsessions and must go to great lengths to protect him, and possibly others, in this portrait of a Chinese American family.