Be Water (30 for 30 documentary on Bruce Lee)

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In 1971, Bruce Lee walked away from Hollywood—not because he wanted to, but because it wouldn’t let him in.

Back in Hong Kong, he made four iconic films in two years.

Then just like that—he was gone at 32, leaving behind not just movies but a philosophy of fluid strength that continues flowing through our culture five decades after his heart stopped beating.

This is the best documentary on Bruce Lee I’ve seen.

Trailer for “Be Water”

Watch “Be Water”

I watched “Be Water” by setting up a recording of it on ESPN via my YouTubeTV account (you could DVR it through your TV provider).

You can also watch “Be Water” on:

There might be other streaming options here: https://www.justwatch.com/no/movie/be-water

Ratings:

  • My Rating: 92/100
  • IMDB Rating: 7.0/10
  • Rotten Tomatoes Ratings: na

Director’s Note — Bao Nguyen directed this 105-minute doc. He’s best known for “The Greatest Night in Pop”—his 2024 hit about the making of “We Are the World.”, “Live from New York!” (SNL!), “Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey” and “The Vietnam War” (as a producer).

“Be Water” marked his directorial breakout in the documentary world, blending Bruce Lee’s story with issues of race, exile, and American identity.

Release Date: January 25, 2020 (Sundance Film Festival); June 7, 2020 (ESPN debut)

My Review of “Be Water”

The Setup

“Be Water” isn’t your typical sports doc. It’s more of a cinematic memoir, told entirely through archival footage, home videos, and voiceovers from those who knew Bruce Lee best. What makes it special is how it places Lee’s personal story inside the larger Asian American fight for recognition in 20th-century America.

You Can’t Make This Sh*t Up

  • Bruce Lee could do one-handed push-ups with just two fingers.
  • He died six days before the release of “Enter the Dragon”, right as he was set to become a mainstream U.S. superstar—and appear on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

More Highlights from the Doc

  • The doc takes its name from Bruce Lee’s famous quote: “Be formless, shapeless, like water.”
  • His son, Brandon Lee, was killed on set in a freak accident while filming The Crow in 1993.
  • He studied Muhammad Ali’s footwork to improve his own movements.
  • Bruce Lee was only 5 feet 8 inches tall, same as Chuck Norris.
  • He was born in San Francisco in 1940, during a touring opera trip by his parents from Hong Kong.
  • After being turned down repeatedly by Hollywood due to racism, Lee moved back to Hong Kong and became a megastar.
  • His hits—”The Big Boss”, “Fist of Fury”, and “Way of the Dragon”—made him Asia’s top box office draw.
  • Lee’s scenes with Chuck Norris in “Way of the Dragon” are still considered some of the best choreographed fight scenes ever filmed.

Lesser-Known Details from the Doc

  • Bruce Lee won a Hong Kong cha-cha dance championship in 1958.
  • In The Green Hornet, he was often cut out of scenes because U.S. networks didn’t want an Asian man to overshadow the white star.
  • He sent long, emotional letters to Linda Lee, questioning his worth and America’s rejection of him.
  • Lee was obsessed with watching and analyzing Muhammad Ali fights, using film study the way NFL quarterbacks use game tape.
  • Over 25,000 people came to his funeral in Hong Kong. One of his pallbearers? Steve McQueen.

Wrap Up

“Be Water” doesn’t just give us Bruce Lee the fighter—it gives us Bruce Lee the thinker, the outsider, the pioneer. It’s a poetic gut-punch of a doc that proves Lee’s legacy wasn’t just about kicks—it was about kicking down doors.

Thanks for reading!

Rob Kelly, Chief Maniac, Daily Doc

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