Shanghai International Film Festival 2026: Lisa Lu attends screening of 'The Arch' after receiving Lifetime Achievement
Shanghai, June 21
Lisa Lu, recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 28th Shanghai International Film Festival, joined a packed audience for a post-screening event celebrating 'The Arch,' the 1968 landmark of Chinese-language arthouse cinema in which she starred, reported Variety
Turning 100 this year by traditional Chinese age reckoning, the actress made a surprise appearance following the screening that drew extended applause from the audience.
Her path to "The Arch" was accidental. The film's director, Cecile Tang Shu Shuen, had originally cast another actor in the lead role, who subsequently turned it down.
"I volunteered myself back then. I was incredibly fortunate to land a part in this film. The director possesses profound cultural literacy, and every frame is breathtaking," she said.
"Most importantly, Mr Lui Tsun-Yuen's score elevates the entire production, underscoring the inner emotions of every character through music," added Lu as quoted by Variety.
According to Variety, 'The Arch' marked the directorial debut of Hong Kong filmmaker Tang Shu Shuen and drew on traditional Chinese poetry and painting to shape its visual language. Its restrained cinematography helped establish it as a benchmark for Chinese-language arthouse film.
The film underwent a full 4K restoration in 2025 and screened as part of Cannes Classics at the 78th Cannes Film Festival before its Shanghai run.
The Shanghai screening added to a run of honours for Lu that included her becoming the oldest person ever to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame - unveiled as the 2,811th star at 1708 Vine Street last year.
Lu is perhaps best known to international audiences for her role as Ah Ma, the matriarch of Singapore's wealthiest family, in Warner Bros.' "Crazy Rich Asians" (2018).
She holds the distinction of being the only person in Hollywood to have voting membership across the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the Television Academy and the Screen Actors' Guild, and has been designated a "Living Legend" by the Chinese government, reported Variety.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I remember watching "Crazy Rich Asians" and being so moved by Ah Ma's character. It's amazing to think she was already in her 90s then and still delivering such powerful performances. And now she's getting Hollywood Walk of Fame recognition! As someone who grew up on Indian cinema, I love seeing Asian talent celebrated internationally. Total inspiration.
Honestly, the way Lisa Lu speaks about the director's "cultural literacy" and the composer's score elevating the film reminds me of how we often undervalue our own Indian classics. Our Satyajit Ray or Ritwik Ghatak films deserve similar restorations and global screenings. Good to see China doing this for their heritage. Kya baat hai! 🎬
A 100-year-old actress getting a standing ovation at a film festival. That's goals. Also, being the only person with voting membership in all four major Hollywood bodies is mad impressive. She's literally a "Living Legend" as China officially calls her. We need more such role models for our youth. Jai Ho to Lisa Lu! 🌟
The fact that she volunteered for the role after another actor turned it down speaks volumes about her passion. In an industry where many chase fame, she just wanted to be part of meaningful cinema. 'The Arch' drawing from Chinese poetry and painting for its visual language sounds so artistic. Wish we had more such cross-cultural film appreciation here.
I appreciate the recognition, but I can't help feeling a bit cynical. The Hollywood Walk of Fame at
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