The Real Lisa (BLACKPINK)

The documentary “Always Lalisa” offers viewers a more authentic perspective on K-pop through Lisa’s own narrative. Beneath the glamour lies a grueling training process, strict control over both her public image and private life, and immense pressure from fans.

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Directed by Sue Kim, “Always Lalisa” premiered globally at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). The film garnered attention by focusing on Lisa, the youngest member of the world’s top K-pop girl group, BLACKPINK.

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The film follows Lisa during a year-long hiatus from BLACKPINK as she seeks her own path. Across its 97-minute runtime, viewers not only discover previously unknown details about the idol—born in 1997—but also gain insight into the hidden realities behind the glitz of K-pop.

Lisa on the red carpet at TIFF 2026. Photo: Reuters.

In an interview with Reuters, director Sue Kim explained that the production team wanted to reveal a side of Lisa that audiences rarely get to see.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to better understand someone we usually only know through the specific image crafted by the music system that trained her. We have the chance to get close and understand her on an unprecedented level… This isn’t the world of K-pop,” Kim emphasized. Notable revelations about Lisa’s love life
Lisa left Thailand for South Korea in 2011 at the age of 14 to become a trainee at YG Entertainment. In *Always Lalisa*, she reflects on this period with a mix of emotions.

She shares that for a long time—starting from the moment she arrived in a foreign country and entered the K-pop industry—she did not dare to speak up or express her thoughts. She became emotional when recalling the performance videos she had to submit for monthly evaluations and the feedback she received.

This detail highlights the harsh reality of the South Korean idol training system. To achieve global stardom, Lisa endured years of rigorous training and constant evaluation. For her, the process involved more than just learning to sing, dance, or perform; it also shaped how an idol presents themselves to the public.

In the documentary, Lisa appears not only as a dazzling stage star but also reveals a vulnerable side.

One of the most notable revelations concerns her love life. Lisa speaks candidly about how, in K-pop culture, artists “cannot date” openly. She has had relationships but kept them private, fearing that her personal life might impact BLACKPINK’s popularity. According to Lisa, if an idol is caught dating, their public appeal could diminish.

Through Lisa’s account, dating serves as an example of the gap between an idol’s private life and their public image. The more an artist is expected to maintain an approachable image for fans, the more likely their private life is to become an issue affecting their career.

Lisa reveals that the song “Dream” from the album *Alter Ego* was inspired by a past secret relationship. Before releasing the song, she contacted her ex-partner for permission; he agreed on the condition that his identity remained hidden from fans.

Sue Kim acknowledged the power of the idol-fan relationship but was simultaneously shocked by the toxicity a fandom can generate.

The filmmaker incorporated various hostile social media comments directed at Lisa into the film, including insults regarding her talent, wealth, and Thai background. Lisa described living with the constant feeling that people were trying to find the exact words that would hurt her the most.

The contrast between the two worlds—the stage and social media—is a standout element of the film. On the Coachella stage, Lisa stood before a sea of ​​fans, basking in their adoration and fervor. Yet online, she became a target of insults and harassment.

*Always Lalisa* chronicles not only Lisa’s success after branching out from the group but also the price that comes with such fame.

Hardships and negativity have also played a role in shaping the person Lisa is today.

However, the film does not focus solely on the negatives. The core of *Always Lalisa* remains Lisa’s journey toward independence. Her year-long hiatus from BLACKPINK allowed her to establish her own management company, LLOUD; produce the album *Alter Ego*; try her hand at acting in *The White Lotus*; and prepare for her performance…

Lisa’s solo performance at Coachella.

The Hollywood Reporter describes this as a period where Lisa faced fear and pressure in building her own identity outside of BLACKPINK.

Notably, these negative experiences contributed to Lisa’s success. The K-pop system transformed her from a naive Thai girl into a global star, while also imposing many limitations that she had to learn to adapt to.

After years of appearing in public as a member of BLACKPINK, Lisa wanted to decide who she was and what she wanted to do. “Always Lalisa” chronicles the moment she began to do just that.

Behind the story of a star seeking creative freedom lies a process of learning to remain silent, conceal her private life, and endure judgment to survive in an industry that demands very high control over the image of idols.

Critics’ Reviews
Because it hasn’t been widely released yet (scheduled for October 12th), the number of professional reviews for Always Lalisa is limited. However, overall, the media has received the documentary positively, especially for its attempt to lift Lisa’s image from that of a tightly controlled K-pop star.

The Toronto Star called Always Lalisa a coherent, purposeful story about a year in Lisa’s life. The film peels back the image of a global star to show Lisa behind the glamour, with her anxieties, hurts, and everyday pressures.

The only review of the film on Rotten Tomatoes (as of the morning of September 14th) is from Lyra Hale of fangirlish.com. The writer commented that Always Lalisa offers a profound insight into a global superstar. With a gentle narrative voice, the film strips away the glitz and glamour to reveal the portrait of a woman with fears, joys, and anxieties just like everyone else.

Reviews of Always Lalisa are generally positive. Photo: Reuters

Other publications such as Reuters, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety… also have reviews, but mainly focus on the content and context of the film, without offering praise or criticism on its quality.

Meanwhile, Silver Screen Capture was more critical, giving it only a B-. Writer Stephen Michael Brown argued that Lisa’s charisma outweighed the film’s observational skills.

According to the review, the film only captures a relatively short period in the development of her solo career, while Lisa’s personality, cultural background, and professional approach are rich enough to create a more profound portrait.

Although close proximity to a global star helps the film maintain its appeal, director Sue Kim did not fully exploit that opportunity to bring about new discoveries about the character.

Silver Screen Capture also suggested that the work needed more music.