The Cinema of Ang Lee: The Other Side of the Screen (Directors' Cuts)

The first full-length study of its kind, the book investigates recurring themes and motifs across Ang Lee's astonishingly diverse range of works. From the blockbuster, Hulk , to the period drama, Sense and Sensibility , each film is studied in depth to reveal Lee's interest in gender, cultural identity, family ritual and social duty. The volume not only investigates Lee's greatest successes-- Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon (2000), which transformed the status of Chinese martial arts films across the globe, and Brokeback Mountain (2005), which challenged the reception and presentation of homosexuality in mainstream cinema - it also discusses his earlier works, such as Eat Drink Man Woman (1994) and The Wedding Banquet (1993). By looking at the beginnings of Lee's career, Whitney Crothers Dilley positions the filmmaker's work within the roots of the Taiwan New Cinema movement, as well as the larger context of world cinema. Accessible, lively and incisive, this new addition to our Directors' Cuts series not only provides a valuable academic resource but also an enjoyable read for anyone interested in this acclaimed director. Born in Taiwan, Ang Lee is one of cinema's most versatile and daring directors. His ability to cut across cultural, national, and sexual boundaries has given him recognition in all corners of the world, the ability to work with complete artistic freedom whether inside or outside of Hollywood, and two Academy Awards for Best Director. He has won astounding critical acclaim for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000), which transformed the status of martial arts films across the globe, Brokeback Mountain (2005), which challenged the reception and presentation of homosexuality in mainstream cinema, and Life of Pi (2012), Lee's first use of groundbreaking 3D technology and his first foray into complex spiritual themes. In this volume, the only full-length study of Lee's work, Whitney Crothers Dilley analyzes all of his career to date: Lee's early Chinese trilogy films (including The Wedding Banquet , 1993, and Eat Drink Man Woman , 1994), period drama ( Sense and Sensibility , 1995), martial arts ( Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon , 2000), blockbusters ( Hulk , 2003), and intimate portraits of wartime psychology, from the Confederate side of the Civil War ( Ride with the Devil , 1999) to Japanese-occupied Shanghai ( Lust/Caution , 2007). Dilley examines Lee's favored themes such as father/son relationships and intergenerational conflict in The Ice Storm (1997) and Taking Woodstock (2009). By looking at the beginnings of Lee's career, Dilley positions the filmmaker's work within the roots of the Taiwan New Cinema movement, as well as the larger context of world cinema. Using suggestive readings of both gender and identity, this new study not only provides a valuable academic resource but also an enjoyable read that uncovers the enormous appeal of this acclaimed director. ""Table of Contents "" ""Acknowledgments"" ""Note on Transliteration"" ""1. Introduction: Ang Leeâ€?A History"" ""2. Ang Lee as Director: His Position in Asian and World Cinema "" ""3. Confucian Values and Cultural Displacement in Pushing Hands"" ""4. Transgressing Boundaries of Gender and Culture in The Wedding Banquet "" ""5. Globalization and Cultural Identity in Eat Drink Man Woman "" ""6. Opposition and Resolution in Sense and Sensibility"" ""7. Fragmentary Narratives/Fragmented Identities in The Ice Storm"" ""8. Race, Gender, Class, and Social Identity in Ride with the Devil"" ""9. Wuxia Narrative and Transnational Chinese Identity in Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon""""10. The Ultimate Outsider: Hulk"" ""11. Transcending Gender in Brokeback Mountain"" ""12. Eroticism and Performance in Lust/Caution"" ""13. Memory, Narrative, and Transformation in Taking Woodstock"" ""14. Storytelling and Truth in Life of Pi: A Spiritual Journey"" ""15. Conclusion: The Dream of Cinema"" ""Notes"" ""Bibliography"" ""Index "" "Born in Taiwan, Ang Lee is one of cinema's most versatile and daring directors. His ability to cut across cultural, national and sexual boundaries has given him recognition in all corners of the world, the ability to work with complete artistic freedom whether inside or outside of Hollywood, and an Academy Award for Brokeback Mountain (2005). In this volume, the first full-length study of Lee's work, Whitney Crothers Dilley analyses all of his career to date - including studies of films concerning culture clashes and globalisation (Eat Drink Man Woman, 1994), period drama (Sense and Sensibility, 1995), martial arts (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, 2000), blockbusters (Hulk, 2003) and gay romance (Brokeback Mountain) - unravelling favoured themes such as father/son relationships and the modern family. Using suggestive readings of gender and identity, this timely new study uncovers the appeal of this acclaimed contemporary director."--Résumé de l'éditeur Introduction: Ang Lee: a history Ang Lee as director: his position in Asian and world cinema Confucian values and cultural displacement in Pushing hands Transgressing boundaries of gender and culture in The wedding banquet Globalization and cultural identity in Eat drink man woman Opposition and resolution in sense and sensibility Fragmentary narratives/fragmented identities in The ice storm Race, gender, class, and social identity in Ride with the devil Wuxia narrative and transnational Chinese identity in Crouching tiger, hidden dragon The ultimate outsider: Hulk Transcending gender in Brokeback Mountain Eroticism and performance in Lust/Caution Memory, narrative, and transformation in Taking Woodstock Storytelling and truth in Life of Pi: a spiritual journey Conclusion: the dream of cinema. Through suggestive readings of gender and identity, this book explores the international appeal of an acclaimed contemporary director. The author has revised the book's introduction to reflect Ang Lee's new films and their global reception and adds to the text a consideration of new developments in Chinese film, recent critiques of Brokeback Mountain (2005), and chapters on Lust/Caution (2007), Taking Woodstock (2009), and Life of Pi (2012) One of cinema's most versatile yet popular directors, Ang Lee's diverse portfolio has seen him cut across cultural, national and sexual boundaries. This book explores the themes and issues he has addressed in films such as 'Eat Drink Man Woman', 'Sense and Sensibility' and 'Brokeback Mountain'