Oscars win for director Ang Lee is bitter-sweet
A poignant story of cowboys in love finally clinched Ang Lee the Oscar he missed out on five years ago, but the award left him disappointed and 'a bit surprised' at not winning the prize for best picture.
'It was a loss and a gain,' Lee said after being named best director for Brokeback Mountain. 'I was happy about winning but not being able to win the best picture award was a bit surprising. As the film's leader I hoped for an award for everyone involved in the film.
'The whole team is here. At most of the awards we won both best film and directing. We are used to that, so this is surprising. We hope we'll feel better tomorrow.'
Nevertheless, Lee was glad to be the first Chinese - and Asian - to win an Oscar for best director.
'Being the first Asian filmmaker to get this mainstream award, not a critics' award, means a lot for the industry,' he said.
The award gave Lee the recognition that evaded him in 2001 when the martial arts epic Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon managed only the Oscar for best foreign film, despite scooping best director titles at other awards.
Speaking to Hong Kong journalists yesterday after the awards, Lee spoke warmly about his Chinese cultural and cinematic roots.
'I didn't leave Taiwan until I was 23,' he said. 'I grew up with Chinese films and Hong Kong films. They are my cultural roots. I'm very proud of them. I'm delighted to be the representative of the industry, proud to be part of that. I will come back to make a Chinese-language film without a doubt.'
Born in 1954 in Taiwan, Lee graduated from the National Taiwan College of Arts and studied theatre directing and film production in the United States.
He made his directing debut in 1992 with Pushing Hands. The following year, his next film, The Wedding Banquet, won a Golden Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival. His 1994 Eat Drink Man Woman also won acclaim.
In 1995, Lee ventured into the Hollywood mainstream, with a screen adaptation of Jane Austen's classic Sense and Sensibility that won his second Golden Bear.
But it was Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon that secured his top position in Hollywood.
Brokeback Mountain has won awards worldwide since it premiered at last September's Venice Film Festival, winning the top award, the Golden Lion. The film also won a Golden Globe for best picture (drama) and best director.
Accepting his Oscar, Lee dedicated the award to his father, who died before he began shooting Brokeback Mountain. 'This industry, in his eyes, isn't very stable. But he knew I was doing something I'm passionate about.'
Lee said he now wanted some rest. He was working on some scripts but hadn't made up his mind on his next effort.
THE WINNERS
Best picture: Crash
Best director: Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain
Best actor: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Capote
Best actress: Reese Witherspoon, Walk the Line
Best supporting actor: George Clooney, Syriana
Best supporting actress: Rachel Weisz, The Constant Gardener
