With his feature debut, Preparation for the Next Life , director Bing Liu probes the perils and illusory qualities of the American Dream. Photo: Jaclyn Martinez/Amazon MGM Studios With his 2018 documentary Minding the Gap , director Bing Liu crafted a tender, reflective story that functioned as a portrait of masculinity , centered on three young men whose friendship is bound to their love of skateboarding. Liu’s ability to coax truth from his subjects — including his own mother, whom he