Popular actress Lucy Liu is at Cannes to support… Pirate Queen: No water is safe”, an “immersive cinematic experience” that Liu produced with Eloise Singer. Liu also narrates the film, which is premiering as part of the festival’s immersive competition.
Here you answer three of Hollywood ReporterThe most pressing questions about the project.
Do you remember the first time you visited Cannes?
My first experience at Cannes was for… Kung Fu PandaAnd I remember feeling completely drawn into it. Until then, I had never been in a place so intensely devoted to artistic expression on this level. What struck me most was how intimate I could feel despite the size of the festival – walking through it, hearing different languages, meeting people from very different backgrounds, and feeling this amazing connection through a shared love of storytelling.
What brought you or your voice to the Croisette this year?
This year looks very different from my first time at Cannes Kung Fu Panda. The iPhone had just been introduced, and the way we experienced movies, media, and communication was very different than it is today. Now, with the introduction of overwhelming competition, this return feels especially meaningful.
Our project, Pirate Queen: No water is safeIt is a story that I feel very passionate about presenting to the public. At the heart of the film is the story of a woman who existed outside traditional structures of power, yet changed the course of history through her ingenuity, resilience and intelligence, at a time when women were almost impossible to see or even be allowed to have an education. Connecting audiences to this legacy through an immersive format seems like exactly the right way to tell it.
What makes you excited to indulge?
What’s interesting to me about immersion is that Pirate Queen It is a deeply historical story and is not yet widely known to the masses. The immersive format creates an environment in which people can receive its story in a more compelling and immediate way. It is also an opportunity to introduce Chinese culture at a pivotal moment in their history through a very modern lens. This seems especially important right now, since there’s so much content competing for attention. Immersive storytelling creates a space for the audience to observe and live the story. It’s a way to honor something deeply historical and cultural, while presenting it in a form that suits people where they are today.
