In 1993, I was travelling on a London bus when I saw this ad in the back of Time Out (a guide to what's happening in the capital). It was for a mail-order bride video," relates Srinivas Krishna, Lulu's director who co-wrote the screenplay with Robert Armstrong. "I thought the whole idea was pretty seedy, but I sent off for it anyway
"I felt this tape was one of the most chilling documents of the 20th century. It raises so many questions: Who watches the tape? What type of man uses it? Why did these women choose to get married that way, and did they even have a choice?" says Krishna (Masala) of the story's genesis and subsequent development. "The tape gave you no real knowledge about them I saw the surface of each woman, but their faces divulged nothing. What disturbed me most as a filmmaker was how could an image be so devoid of meaning?"
Fascinated by the premise, Krishna crafted the intriguing story of Lulu, a Vietnamese mail-order bride, played by newcomer Kim Lieu whose only experience of acting was as a tree in a high-school production. Working behind the cosmetics counter of a Toronto department store, Lulu's make-up and public persona hide a refugee with a troubled past and an even more disturbing present, given the three men in her life (Clark Johnson, Michael Rhodes and Manuel Aranguiz).
Krishna's search for an actress who could convey his ideas about 'the mysterious feelings of dispossession' represented a casting nightmare. In producer Robert Bergman's opinion, "Kim has a raw talent and an instinctive feel to carry the role which most experienced actors can't do because they have ruined their craft."
Funded by Telefilm Canada and the Ontario Film Development Corporation (OFDC), the C$1.8million (US$1,327,000) production budget was raised when Alliance kicked in the balance. "We have to do 10 times as much work per dollar than big budget features," rues Bergman, who sees Lulu's selection for Un Certain Regard as "the pay-off".
Tim Avis
Prod Co: Divani Films
Prod: Srinivas Krishna, Robert Bergman
Dir: Srinivas Krishna
Scr: Srinivas Krishna, Robert Armstrong
Ph: Paul Sarossy Prod des: Tamara Deverell
Costumes: Aline Gilmore
Mus: Leslie Winston
Editor: Mike Munn
Cast: Kim Lieu, Clark Johnson, Michael Rhoades, Manuel Aranguiz, Saeed Jeffrey
Running time: 90mins
International sales: Alliance
