From naive youth to naked truths

A Brighter Summer Day (1991): at the age of 13, Chang Chen makes his silver-screen debut alongside his father (Chang Kuo-shu, who plays his character's father) in Edward Yang's award-winning, four-hour epic on the problems of youth. Portraying a naive boy who becomes a murderer earned Chang a best actor nomination at the Golden Horse awards.

Mahjong (1996): Chang teams up again with Yang in this satire on modern life in Taiwan. Instead of playing a timid character, Chang portrays a womaniser - named Hong Kong - who seems able to charm his way into any woman's pants. At one point, the actor bares his bottom for the camera.

Happy Together (1997): Chang's collaboration with Wong Kar-wai started with this award-winning, beautiful tale of

a gay couple in Argentina. The actor plays a young Taiwanese man who has an encounter with Tony Leung Chiu-wai's character. Chang almost outshines Leung and Leslie Cheung Kwok-wing with a

brief performance in a film that reinforced his name in international film circles. Chang went on to receive a nomination for best supporting actor at the Hong Kong Film Awards.

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000): 'dragon' Zhang Ziyi may have benefited most from this Ang Lee-directed martial-arts spectacle, becoming a household name in the United States as a result,