The World Premiere of “Central”, the stunning feature length, penultimate episode of Lulu Wang’s six-part limited series Expats starring Nicole Kidman, Brian Tee, Sarayu Blue, Jack Huston, and Ji-young Yoo.
Margaret (Nicole Kidman; Destroyer, TIFF ’18), her husband Clarke (Brian Tee, The Wolverine), and their three kids have moved to Hong Kong from the US. They have established a community of fellow expatriates that includes Hilary (Sarayu Blue, Happiest Season) and her husband David (Jack Huston; Kill Your Darlings, TIFF ’13). This close-knit community is fractured after a sudden family tragedy drastically impacts their intersecting lives.
Set against the vibrant and tumultuous tapestry of 2014 Hong Kong, Lulu Wang’s (The Farewell) adaptation of Janice Y.K. Lee’s internationally bestselling novel The Expatriates, portrays a family tragedy from many perspectives. Each episode jumps back and forth in time from pre- to post-tragedy. The non-linear storytelling allows the audience to dive in at any point, making us feel as though we are weaving together the vibrant strands of the story alongside Wang.
TIFF is showcasing the penultimate episode, which focuses on the lives of two Filipina domestic workers who support this expat community as a massive typhoon descends upon Hong Kong and political movement reaches a point of no return.
GEOFF MACNAUGHTON
Official Selection, 2023 Toronto International Film Festival
Content advisory: mature themes