Ang Lee, Close up

When the director Ang Lee gave an interview in Taiwan, he offered a startling remark. "Besides filming, I can do nothing else," he said, not appearing to be joking at all.

For many people, Ang Lee was an almost overnight start-up who had extremely good luck. For people who know him, his rise to fame was a step-by-step accomplishment. He may have good luck, but he is worthy of it.

Ang Lee, who tested into his 108th choice for college, broke into the field of drama by accident. Afterwards he went abroad for advanced study. He got his degrees in the United States, from Illinois University and New York University respectively. For his graduate work, he directed the film Fine Line, which earned the best film and best director awards at the NYU student film festival, (reputed to be the university level Oscars). He was spotted by a big American agency, and he signed a contract. For that reason, he stayed for five years. During that period, in came to the understanding that a good ready-made screenplay would never be given to an apprentice director. He could only make a name for himself by writing his own low cost screenplay. The reason the agency signed a contract with him was to block the possibility that he might be taken by someone else.

During the six years when he squatted at home writing plays, he was reputed by his younger fellow alumni as holding the status of "house husband." His wife remained engaged in scientific research while he wrote screenplays, took care of the children and managed household chores. Everyone, whether they were close friends or not, eventually learned of his cooking skills. And his slightly melancholy expression has never changed.

In culturally sophisticated New York City, where competition is fierce, those who want to make a name for themselves are numerous, while there can only be a few who can achieve their goals. Ang Lee stayed at home honing down his screenplays. Soon, nearly two years past. "The screenplays either died young or continued to develop." In an instant, time flew. Six years had already past.

His experience and stories were looked on by many people:

"Can Orientals match Westerners?"

"Do all people who want to make films end up like that?"

"How long can he stick to it?"

"Can his family understand him?"

"Does he want to go back?"

The turning point arrived after he won the best screenplay competition held by the ROC's Government Information Office. He landed a contract from Central Motion Picture Company and started shooting Pushing Hands. In the depressed milieu of the domestic film industry, Pushing Hands did relatively well at the box office. What made all the spectators' eyes pop was that the film had neither a smashing cast nor a passionate love story, but what the audience wanted was simply a good film.

His following film, The Wedding Banquet earned Ang Lee the Golden Bear award at the 43rd Berlin Film Festival. Moreover, The Wedding Banquet was nominated for the best foreign-language film at the Oscars, pushing his fame even higher.

Although he didn't win, his observation was intriguing. "How do you compare good films? How do you compare an apple and a pear? Actually, there are many good films that weren't nominated, so ultimately being nominated doesn't represent anything about its true worth."

"Now Chinese movies are 'in', just as European movies or Japanese movies once were. It's a fashion, a momentary thing. But who knows what people will want to watch a few years down the road? So you can't rely on a fashion."

"It's all good and well for Chinese movie makers to try to break into international markets. But don't think it will be easy from here on out. Film makers still have to go all out on every film. Fashion comes and goes, so you've got to work very hard."

While Ang Lee was interviewed by our magazine, he expressed deeply andsincerely what he thought of the future of our films. With a pragmatic attitude he pointed out, "Good productions are a personal honor, and they give face to one's company and nation. Do your best to aim for this, but don't spend too much time fantasizing about it."

Ang Lee is currently the darling of the media. However, he still remains calm and rational, not topsy-turvy from all the praise. He is setting his eyes on his next work.

Because of the accomplishments of his previous two movies, Ang Lee felt even greater pressure while filming his new work, Eat, Drink, Man, Woman. "I had a painful time shooting that film." But he didn't deny that because of his previous record there are a lot of people willing to participate in this film, which lent a "cooperative spirit" to the working process.

Ang Lee, who likes to put some new ideas in every one of his films, talks eloquently about his new work. "I feel this film is better... the technique is more mature. But I have no way to know its fate with audiences."

Before the movie hits the market, we invite you to a "sneak preview" of this issue's cover story and to see what Ang Lee is really like ....