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Corey and Frank Lee star in Legend of a Warrior. Photo credit: Colin Smith. Courtesy of the NFB. |
“In China, or Hong Kong, the practice of Kung Fu is just
like Canada hockey,” says Frank Lee to his son, Corey, in a scene towards the
middle of the documentary Legend of a
Warrior. If hockey is the national pastime in Canada, or the sport that
most often brings people together, then it’s fitting that Corey uses a return
to Kung Fu to reconnect with his father and his Chinese roots. Corey was born
in Canada after Frank left China, settled in the wintry North American nation,
and had a family. Frank didn’t really participate in the raising of his family,
though, as he brought to Canada his true love from China: Kung Fu. Frank Lee is
a Kung Fu legend (he was inducted into the Canadian Black Belt Hall of Fame in
May 2012), but his road to success led him away from his family, which is a bridge
that Corey hopes to repair by becoming Frank’s student once again. Legend of a Warrior, now available on
DVD and download to own from the National Film Board of Canada, follows Corey’s
journey as the learns the art of Kung Fu from Frank and, in turn, gives
Frank the opportunity to learn the role of a father.
Lee’s journey with his father is profoundly personal. Legend of a Warrior is a moving,
poignant story not only of the relationship between fathers and sons, but also
of family, history, and legacy. I reviewed the film when it had its world
premiere at Hot Docs back in May and praised the film for its innovative
mixed-form approach to storytelling (Lee makes smart use of animation to
compensate for archival footage) and for the intimate accessibility with which
Lee shares his transformative journey. Legend
of a Warrior also landed on my list of the Top Ten Canadian films of 2012
and it deserves the spot thanks to its rich snapshot of Canadian multiculturalism
and its smart look at the personal bonds that are forged through our shared
experiences. Whether it’s shooting the puck in a game of hockey or sparring a
few rounds of Kung Fu, the everyday traditions we practice with our friends and
family members have a lasting effect. Legend
of a Warrior shows that every attempt to absorb traditions afresh can restore
our culture connections and renew them for generations to follow.