Hmm let’s see…
How can I tell you about Everything Everywhere All At Once ? This culture is not, as far as I know, a part of my heritage.
What I can do is talk about the subject of culture, and maybe you will notice some similarities. And maybe you can discover a new way to experience and understand this movie.
Here we go.
We always start with music…
I want to tell you a story. Sit down. Listen. But wait, I can’t tell you this tale in the way you have heard other stories. This story is not about one hero who fights against something, and then wins, and then learns something and then everything ends happily ever after. It’s not about the individual and their struggle against themself and/or the world. It’s not a story that flows in a straight line. My story curves and spirals, and travels through time. This is the truth of my story.
My story is the story of many voices. It is the voice of my grandmother, my mother, my siblings and my cousins. When you hear the bells and the history in my grandmother’s voice, you will understand one part of me. When you hear the story of my mother, you will know why I love to cook. I have to tell my story in different languages, dancing rhythms. There are eight different words for “cousin” in Chinese, so the English language may not support the way some people experience their family. When you hear the stories of my family members, I expose my roots to the sun.
My story is the story of myths. Of legends. Of songs sung in the field. These myths are weaved in my words. These legends are the foundation that allows me to stand. These songs are the things that have carried me through places I’m not ready to tell you about. Can you feel me humming it in my throat? Can you sing it with me?
My story cannot be understood without movement. You need to get up an dance with me to hear it. You need to kick and spin around to understand me. Spend a morning in the park doing Tai Chi. Do the Funky Chicken. You have to feel the beat of the music in your body to be transported to my world.
My story is your story. My story is a battle inside of my body. I have different cultures competing inside of me. Different beliefs, hopes, and fears. My story is the battle between the new generation and the old, and generations that I have never known imprinted in my DNA. Some of my battles are simple and well-known. Some of my battles are devastating. You wouldn’t believe some of my trials if I did not have the video.
This is your story. This is your song told in a way you may not have seen before. Look closely and you may see yourself, or, if you are open, you may see me. Within all of this complexity a painting starts to form in the air. Step back and take a look. Move to the side and observe the fabrics and the aromas. There is, I admit, a lot going on…