Be Water

2020

1 hr. 45 min.

Documentary

List

93%

30 Reviews

Tomatometer

100%

Fewer than 50 Ratings

Audience Score

Martial arts legend Bruce Lee contends with racism as he tries to land leading roles in Hollywood.

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Critics Consensus

If Be Water's surface level approach doesn't quite match its subject's depth, it still serves as an appropriate introduction to the almighty Bruce Lee.

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Gustavo O

Great documentary about his live! The best fighter actor ever.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/15/23

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Bao Nguyen

Director

Kareem Abdul-Jabaar

Self

Linda Lee Cadwell

Actor

Jenna Anthony

Producer

Marquis Daisy

Producer

Gentry Kirby

Producer

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Jack Hamilton

Slate

A nimble, nuanced, and at times even poetic documentary about martial arts legend Bruce Lee.

Jun 23, 2020

Full Review

John Anderson

Wall Street Journal

For the most part, it's a very entertaining documentary, but one with curious holes in its history.

Jun 11, 2020

Full Review

Danette Chavez

AV Club

Be Water never forgets Lee's heritage, or stops celebrating it. Even as Lee is described as "East meets West," the documentary never stops pondering the ocean between.

Rated: B

Jun 8, 2020

Full Review

Therese Lacson

Nerdophiles

Be Water is more than just a documentary on Bruce Lee...it's an homage to this man's journey in Hollywood and his meteoric rise.

Rated: 4.5/5

Mar 3, 2021

Full Review

Simon Miraudo

Movie Squad (RTRFM 92.1)

It's really important to understand why, 45 years ago, this was something that really mattered. I definitely have a better appreciation now than I did before I saw Be Water.

Rated: 4/5

Feb 15, 2021

Full Review

Carla Renata

The Curvy Film Critic

Director Bao Nguyen elegantly weaves Lee's personal struggle for visibility and reminds up that Bruce Lee's star burned so brightly we still see it today.

Dec 30, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Martial arts legend Bruce Lee contends with racism as he tries to land leading roles in Hollywood.

Director: Bao Nguyen
Executive Producer: John Dahl, Libby Geist, Rob King, Connor Schell
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: English