Ang Lee and Zhang Ziyi Reunite at Academy Museum to Celebrate 25th Anniversary of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

LAPost Los Angeles (May 9, 2025) — On the evening of May 9, the 1,000-seat Ted Mann Theater at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles was filled to capacity. To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, the museum held a special screening event featuring director Ang Lee, lead actress Zhang Ziyi, and Academy President Janet Yang. Together, they revisited the film that stunned global audiences and propelled Chinese-language cinema to international prominence.

Released in 2000, the film remains the highest-grossing non-English-language film in U.S. box office history and won four Academy Awards. The evening’s program was hosted by Janet Yang, who conducted a nearly 40-minute in-depth conversation in English with Lee and Zhang on stage. “I’ve never heard these stories before,” she remarked with wonder.

When asked why he made the film, Lee replied with characteristic humor: “The filming conditions in China were tough. Every day, I asked myself, ‘Why am I putting myself through this?’” He explained that the ending scene—where Yu Jiaolong (Zhang’s character) jumps off a cliff—symbolized release and freedom. “In Eastern culture, there are things greater than life itself. That’s a different philosophy from the West,” he said, adding that Eastern aesthetics embrace the Dao, or ‘the way’—whether in martial arts, tea, cooking, or traditional medicine, all emphasize self-cultivation, harmony, and inner order.

Lee described Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon as “the hardest film” of his career. He revealed that it was Zhang Yimou who recommended then-19-year-old Zhang Ziyi for the role, impressed by her performance in The Road Home. “I was very strict with her on set. I yelled at her a lot,” Lee admitted. “But the moment I saw her on the monitor with full makeup, I knew I had found a star. She was one of the keys to the film’s success.” He also praised her camera-friendly features: “No matter the angle, her face looks cinematic.”

Zhang Ziyi, answering Yang’s questions, recalled how daunting the experience was at the start of filming. “I couldn’t even look Director Lee in the eyes. I just focused on getting through each day,” she said. “The biggest challenge was turning my body into a second language of performance.” Her dance background helped immensely, she noted, “though the action scenes were still grueling.”

Lee reminisced, “She was one of the easiest actors I’ve ever worked with.” Just as he finished, Zhang playfully interrupted: “But do you like me?” The audience burst into laughter. Embarrassed, Lee hesitated to answer, prompting Yang to quip, “That’s Chinese-style subtlety for you,” drawing even more laughs and warm applause.

After the discussion, the three stood and bowed to the audience. Then, in a touching moment, Lee and Zhang embraced onstage, holding each other tightly for a long time. The emotional scene moved many in the audience to tears. With a radiant smile, Zhang opened her arms wide and exclaimed to the crowd, “This is love!”

Another heartfelt moment followed as Lee reflected on recently rewatching the film upon receiving a lifetime achievement award earlier this year. “I rarely revisit my own films, but this one… it’s even better than I remembered. I’m very proud. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a gift of its time, and a tribute to all Chinese people.”

Renowned producer Jennifer Dong, who recently visited Lee’s studio, shared her thoughts after the screening. “Twenty-five years ago, I had just arrived in the U.S. and watched this all-Mandarin, classically styled film in a New York theater. It was a profound cultural and emotional shock.” She added, “Tonight doesn’t feel like nostalgia—it’s like traveling through time, witnessing Chinese cinema’s moment of glory with its creators again.”

She praised Lee’s directorial artistry: “He weaves restraint and passion into the same frame. Michelle Yeoh and Zhang Ziyi shine on screen. Zhang is grateful to fate, and Lee casually recalls the chaos of filming. Just like the film itself—effortless in appearance, yet powerful beneath.”

She concluded, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is not merely a classic of the past. It poses a question to the future. Like the legendary Green Destiny sword, it transcends time, waiting for the right soul to understand. In today’s age of short-form media, this film reminds us that beauty, restraint, and depth still move the world.”

Japanese director Hirokazu Koreeda also made a special appearance to greet Lee and Zhang. Members of the Chinese American Film and TV Artists Association attended as well. Vice president and director Qi Binying remarked, “Watching it again after 25 years, it’s still breathtaking. The bamboo forest fight remains unmatched. Zhang was only 19, yet delivered such a layered emotional performance—it’s truly rare.”

Woody Mu, former executive of Warner Bros. International’s China division, recalled translating scripts for Lee a decade ago. “He was already a world-renowned director, yet remained humble and witty. I learned a lot from him. His fusion of traditional wuxia and modern storytelling brought Chinese-language cinema to a whole new level.”

Senior Hollywood producer Da-xing Zhang pointed out that audiences of the time, especially Baby Boomers, held deep respect for Chinese culture. That cultural affinity directly contributed to the film’s record-breaking box office performance—still unbeaten.

Dr. Xiaoyu Xu, a partner at Amino Capital, traveled from Silicon Valley to attend the screening and shared a little-known anecdote: “Without Zhang Ziyi, there would be no Google Image Search.” Twenty-five years ago, Zhang’s overnight fame after the film left fans scouring the internet for photos. Frustrated by the lack of results, Amino Capital co-founder Dr. Huican Zhu created Google Image Search—a move some call the “most romantic invention in tech history.”

Two and a half hours before the screening, fans were already lining up outside the theater. As the event concluded with thunderous applause, one emotional attendee said, “When I saw them hug, I just cried.” As the film’s famous line reminds us: “Tell the people you love that you care about them, folks.”

(By: Richard Ren / LAPost)