Director Sue Kim’s documentary ‘Always Lalisa’ follows global pop star Lisa during a year-long break from her record-breaking group Blackpink. The film chronicles a period when Lisa and her bandmates — Jennie, Jisoo, and Rosé — agreed to pursue individual projects before reuniting for new material and touring.
During this time away, Lisa released her debut full-length album Alter Ego, secured a solo performance slot at Coachella, and took on an acting role in the series ‘The White Lotus.’ The documentary reveals that while the initial plan was simply to take a break from group activities, Lisa’s year became filled with intensive work across multiple creative ventures. She has since returned to Blackpink, reuniting with the group to record the EP Deadline and participate in a world tour, while continuing solo music releases alongside her group commitments.
Kim structured the project to present Lisa outside the traditional K-pop industry framework, emphasizing authenticity and intimacy rather than the carefully curated public image typical of the entertainment system. The director intentionally limited references to Lisa’s time with Blackpink, aiming to focus on her solo journey and personal development. The film incorporates Lisa’s family and connections to her home country of Thailand in ways her previous K-pop schedule did not permit.
The documentary addresses a significant moment from Lisa’s past: leaked trainee videos involving members performing songs containing the N-word. The footage sparked controversy, during which Lisa remained publicly silent due to a combination of industry guidance and threats. In the film, she expresses regret over her silence and uses the platform to apologize. Kim indicates this conversation occurred spontaneously during filming rather than as a planned segment, capturing an unguarded moment as Lisa processed the situation.
Licensing restrictions prevented the filmmakers from incorporating additional K-pop material and footage that could have provided historical context for Lisa’s journey within the industry.
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