Lucy Liu stars in Rosemead, a film opening December 5, that tackles the struggles of a Chinese American mother coping with her teenage son’s schizophrenia diagnosis. PEOPLE has an exclusive look at the trailer revealing a side of Liu audiences haven't seen before.
Directed by Eric Lin and adapted by Marilyn Fu from a 2017 Los Angeles Times article, Rosemead is based on a true story. Liu, 56, portrays Irene, a woman facing immense challenges as her son Joe, played by Lawrence Shou, battles severe mental illness.
The story delves into Irene’s drastic measures to protect her troubled son. As his dark obsessions intensify and time runs out, she confronts impossible choices about sacrifice and love.
“As his dark obsessions grow and time runs out, she is forced to make impossible choices: how far will she go and what is she willing to sacrifice?”
Originally reported by Frank Shyong, the Los Angeles Times article detailed a terminally ill mother’s tragic decision in response to her son’s schizophrenia diagnosis.
A doctor’s voice in the trailer states, “This isn’t going to just go away like some cold. He needs to learn to live with it. You both do.”
Since its premiere at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival, Rosemead and Liu’s performance have received multiple film festival accolades.
Author’s summary: Lucy Liu delivers a powerful, award-winning portrayal in Rosemead, a deeply moving film about a Chinese American mother facing heartbreaking challenges with her son’s schizophrenia diagnosis.