Lucky Lu
| Lucky Lu | |
|---|---|
 Film poster | |
| Directed by | Lloyd Lee Choi |
| Written by | Lloyd Lee Choi |
| Based on | |
| Produced by |
|
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Norm Li |
| Edited by | Brendan Mills |
| Music by | Charles Humenry |
Production companies |
|
Release date |
|
Running time | 103 minutes[2] |
| Countries |
|
| Language | English |
Lucky Lu is a 2025 drama film written and directed by Lloyd Lee Choi, in his feature film directorial debut. Adapted from Choi's 2022 short film Same Old, it stars Chang Chen, Fala Chen, and Carabelle Manna Wei.
The film had its world premiere at the Directors' Fortnight section of the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on May 19, 2025, where it was eligible for the Caméra d'Or.[3] At the 62nd Golden Horse Awards, the film was nominated for five awards and won three, including Best Leading Actor for Chen, Best New Director for Choi, and Best Original Film Score for Charles Humenry.[4] It also received two nominations at the 41st Independent Spirit Awards, including Best Director for Choi and Best Lead Performance for Chen.[5]
Premise
[edit]A delivery driver's bike is stolen on the eve of his wife and his daughter's immigration from Taiwan to New York City.
Plot
[edit]Lu is working as a food delivery person because he lost all his money trying to start a restaurant. He's finally made enough money to bring his wife and daughter over to New York City, so he leases a 3 bedroom apartment and moves out of the hostel.
His rented e-bike gets stolen. Since he was delivering under a fake delivery profile and renting his e-bike from the same person, he is barred from continuing to use the delivery profile. He also finds out that the lessor for his apartment has scammed him and disappeared with his money. The building's superintendent won't let Lu move in until he returns with another first month's rent and deposit.
Lu spends a night homeless and tries to pawn his possessions and call in favors. He steals an e bike. His failed restaurant keeps coming back to haunt him as he tries to call in favors and borrow money. He ends up going to a loan shark who demands collateral, as well as his passport and visa. The loan shark rejects him due to his failed restaurant.
He ends up convincing the superintendent to let him move in. His wife and daughter arrive and move in to the apartment. His daughter (Yaya) wants to spend the day with him, since they haven't seen each other in-person for 5 years.
They spend the day together trying to cobble together money, selling the e-bike, and more items. Lu spots the scammer going to an illegal gambling den and unsuccessfully tries to recover his money.
At the same time, his daughter wanders around looking for him, stumbles into a brownstone during an open house. While playing, she discovers a watch and takes it. Eventually, father and daughter reunite, with the daughter exclaiming that the father is never around when she needs him. THe daughter offers up the watch, but the father insists on returning it.
They go to the father's restaurant partner's anil salon to plead for a goldfish for the daughter. While the daughter is getting her nails done, the father attempts to steal another e-bike. In the struggle for the e-bike, Lu is struck by a car that drives off without a trace. Lu gives up and returns to take his daughter home. The e-bike owner (another delivery driver), follows Lu and provides the license plate number of the car in the hit-and-run.
Lu and Yaya return home to discover Si has spent all day cleaning and furnishing the apartment. The doorbell buzzes-it is a delivery driver with dinner. Pained expressions are on Lu's face at each of these moments. Lu does not explain their desperate situation to his wife. At dinner, Yaya decliens to eat, aware of their family's economic situation.
In the morning, Lu sits by the window and sees the sun shine through the window, as it fulfills the promise the scammer made at the beginning of the movie.
Cast
[edit]- Chang Chen as Lu Jia Cheng
- Fala Chen as Si Yu
- Carabelle Manna Wei as Yaya
- Fiona Fu as Yu Tong
- Laith Nakli as Markos
- Perry Yung as Zhang
- Fady Rizk as Bodega Clerk
Production
[edit]In September 2024, it was announced Chang Chen would star in the film, with Lloyd Lee Choi directing from a screenplay he wrote. Destin Daniel Cretton and Nina Yang Bongiovi were set to serve as producers.[6] Forest Whitaker, Jennifer Pritzker serve as an executive producers.[7] The film is a full-length expansion of Choi's 2022 short film Same Old.[6]
Principal photography began in December 2024, in New York City.[8]
Release and reception
[edit]It had its world premiere at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival in the Directors' Fortnight section on May 19, 2025.[9]
| Award | Year | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary International Film Festival | 2025 | International Narrative Competition | Lucky Lu | Nominated | [10] |
| Cannes Film Festival | 2025 | Caméra d'Or | Lucky Lu | Nominated | [3] |
| El Gouna Film Festival | 2025 | El Gouna Silver Star for Narrative Film | Lucky Lu | Won | [11] |
| Filmfest Hamburg | 2025 | NDR Young Talent Award | Lloyd Lee Choi | Won | [12] |
| Film Independent Spirit Awards | 2026 | Best Director | Lloyd Lee Choi | Nominated | [13] |
| Best Lead Performance | Chang Chen | Nominated | |||
| Golden Horse Awards | 2025 | Best Leading Actor | Chang Chen | Won | [14] [15] |
| Best New Director | Lloyd Lee Choi | Won | |||
| Best Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||||
| Best Cinematography | Norm Li | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Film Score | Charles Humenry | Won |
References
[edit]- ↑ "SFFILM Announces Four Year Partnership with Cedar Road". SFFILM. March 4, 2025. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
- ↑ "Lucky Lu". Directors' Fortnight. Retrieved April 29, 2025.
- 1 2 "Lucky Lu". Quinzaine des cinéastes. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
- ↑ Shackleton, Liz (November 23, 2025). "'A Foggy Tale' Wins Best Film & Three Other Prizes At Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
- ↑ "Here Are Your 2026 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominees!". Film Independent. December 3, 2025. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
- 1 2 Tangcay, Jazz (September 5, 2024). "Lloyd Lee Choi's Feature Adaptation 'Lucky Lu' to Begin Filming in New York City Later This Year". Variety. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
- ↑ Bergeson, Samantha (May 17, 2025). "'Lucky Lu' First Look: Lloyd Lee Choi's Directorial Debut Confronts the Fallacy of the American Dream". IndieWire. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
- ↑ "Lucky Lu Casting Lead Child Fluent in Mandarin". NY Castings. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
- ↑ Goodfellow, Melanie (April 15, 2025). "Cannes Directors' Fortnight Unveils 2025 Line-Up; 'Enzo' Opener & 'Sorry, Baby' Closer". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 15, 2025.
- ↑ "LUCKY LU » CIFF". Calgary International Film Festival. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
- ↑ "EL GOUNA FILM FESTIVAL CONCLUDES 8TH EDITION WITH STELLAR AWARDS CEREMONY". El Gouna Film Festival. October 25, 2025. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
- ↑ "Film Meets Heart". Filmfest Hamburg. October 4, 2025. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
- ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 3, 2025). "Spirit Awards Nominations: 'Train Dreams', 'The Plague', 'Sorry, Baby', 'Twinless' & 'Peter Hujar's Day' In Best Feature Race". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 13, 2025.
- ↑ Wong, Silvia (October 1, 2025). "'A Foggy Tale', 'Left-Handed Girl' lead Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards nominations". Screen Daily. Retrieved October 1, 2025.
- ↑ Wong, Silvia (November 23, 2025). "'A Foggy Tale' wins multiple prizes including best film at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards". Screen Daily. Retrieved November 23, 2025.
