Blackpink's Lisa has spent the past year proving there's life beyond the world's biggest girl group — and a new documentary captures every minute of it. Always Lalisa, directed by Sue Kim, lands in cinemas on Oct 12 after premiering at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept 11, and follows the 29-year-old through the first year she's spent apart from her bandmates since joining them as a teenager.
The film's origin story is a distinctly Thai one. Born Lalisa Manobal, she auditioned for South Korea's YG Entertainment at 13, and at 14 flew alone from Thailand to Korea to begin training — two hours of Korean language lessons a day, daily dance practice, five years of it before Blackpink even debuted. She has described the pressure of navigating the K-pop system as a foreign teenager, but credits the group's bond with carrying her through; the four members remain close, she says, texting, FaceTiming and meeting up for Korean BBQ even while working on separate projects.
That solo year packed a lot in. Lisa spent six months in Thailand filming her acting debut in the latest season of The White Lotus — a rare stretch at home with her mother and stepfather, who she says backed her move to Korea even when it meant sending their 14-year-old daughter overseas alone. She also recorded her first solo album, Alter Ego, built around five characters she relates to, and got to sing on her own material after years of being the group's designated rapper. Her solo turn at Coachella in April 2025 was another milestone — she says she invites her late grandfather and her late dance teacher, Nok, to watch every performance, calling them her guardian angels.
Back with Blackpink now, she says the break changed the group for the better: each member returned more confident, with a clearer sense of her own voice. For fans, the documentary promises candid archive footage, hours of unfiltered conversation with director Kim, and a behind-the-scenes look at a side of idol life — the restrictions on dating, going out, even driving — rarely shown publicly.
For travellers, the film doubles as an accidental love letter to Thailand. Lisa's six-month White Lotus shoot kept her rooted in her home country, and fans inspired to see it for themselves will find a destination that's far more than Bangkok: think island escapes, northern mountain towns and a food scene that runs from street stalls to fine dining. Add the Oct 12 cinema release to the calendar and you've got an excuse for a K-pop-themed city break or a Thailand trip with a soundtrack.
