{"id":72784,"date":"2025-05-11T12:09:55","date_gmt":"2025-05-11T19:09:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=72784"},"modified":"2025-05-11T12:24:52","modified_gmt":"2025-05-11T19:24:52","slug":"ang-lee-and-zhang-ziyi-reunite-at-academy-museum-to-celebrate-25th-anniversary-of-crouching-tiger-hidden-dragon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/?p=72784","title":{"rendered":"Ang Lee and Zhang Ziyi Reunite at Academy Museum to Celebrate 25th Anniversary of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon"},"content":{"rendered":"

LAPost Los Angeles (May 9, 2025)<\/em> <\/strong>\u2014 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<\/em>, 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.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

From Left: Ziyi Zhang, Ang Lee, Janet Yang \uff08Photo by: Richard Ren\/LAPost\uff09<\/p><\/div>\n

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\u2019s program was hosted by Janet Yang, who conducted a nearly 40-minute in-depth conversation in English with Lee and Zhang on stage. \u201cI\u2019ve never heard these stories before,\u201d she remarked with wonder.<\/span><\/p>\n

When asked why he made the film, Lee replied with characteristic humor: \u201cThe filming conditions in China were tough. Every day, I asked myself, \u2018Why am I putting myself through this?\u2019\u201d He explained that the ending scene\u2014where Yu Jiaolong (Zhang\u2019s character) jumps off a cliff\u2014symbolized release and freedom. \u201cIn Eastern culture, there are things greater than life itself. That\u2019s a different philosophy from the West,\u201d he said, adding that Eastern aesthetics embrace the Dao, or \u2018the way\u2019\u2014whether in martial arts, tea, cooking, or traditional medicine, all emphasize self-cultivation, harmony, and inner order.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Ang Lee \uff08Photo by: Richard Ren\/LAPost\uff09<\/p><\/div>\n

Lee described Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon<\/em> as \u201cthe hardest film\u201d 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<\/em>. \u201cI was very strict with her on set. I yelled at her a lot,\u201d Lee admitted. \u201cBut 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\u2019s success.\u201d He also praised her camera-friendly features: \u201cNo matter the angle, her face looks cinematic.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Zhang Ziyi, answering Yang\u2019s questions, recalled how daunting the experience was at the start of filming. \u201cI couldn\u2019t even look Director Lee in the eyes. I just focused on getting through each day,\u201d she said. \u201cThe biggest challenge was turning my body into a second language of performance.\u201d Her dance background helped immensely, she noted, \u201cthough the action scenes were still grueling.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Ziyi Zhang \uff08Photo by: Richard Ren\/LAPost\uff09<\/p><\/div>\n

Lee reminisced, \u201cShe was one of the easiest actors I\u2019ve ever worked with.\u201d Just as he finished, Zhang playfully interrupted: \u201cBut do you like me?\u201d The audience burst into laughter. Embarrassed, Lee hesitated to answer, prompting Yang to quip, \u201cThat\u2019s Chinese-style subtlety for you,\u201d drawing even more laughs and warm applause.<\/span><\/p>\n

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, \u201cThis is love!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Another heartfelt moment followed as Lee reflected on recently rewatching the film upon receiving a lifetime achievement award earlier this year. \u201cI rarely revisit my own films, but this one\u2026 it\u2019s even better than I remembered. I\u2019m very proud. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon<\/em> is a gift of its time, and a tribute to all Chinese people.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Renowned producer Jennifer Dong, who recently visited Lee\u2019s studio, shared her thoughts after the screening. \u201cTwenty-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.\u201d She added, \u201cTonight doesn\u2019t feel like nostalgia\u2014it\u2019s like traveling through time, witnessing Chinese cinema\u2019s moment of glory with its creators again.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She praised Lee\u2019s directorial artistry: \u201cHe 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\u2014effortless in appearance, yet powerful beneath.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

She concluded, \u201cCrouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon<\/em> 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\u2019s age of short-form media, this film reminds us that beauty, restraint, and depth still move the world.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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, \u201cWatching it again after 25 years, it\u2019s still breathtaking. The bamboo forest fight remains unmatched. Zhang was only 19, yet delivered such a layered emotional performance\u2014it\u2019s truly rare.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Woody Mu, former executive of Warner Bros. International\u2019s China division, recalled translating scripts for Lee a decade ago. \u201cHe 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.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u2019s record-breaking box office performance\u2014still unbeaten.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Xiaoyu Xu, a partner at Amino Capital, traveled from Silicon Valley to attend the screening and shared a little-known anecdote: \u201cWithout Zhang Ziyi, there would be no Google Image Search.\u201d Twenty-five years ago, Zhang\u2019s 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\u2014a move some call the \u201cmost romantic invention in tech history.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

\uff08Photo by: Richard Ren\/LAPost\uff09<\/p><\/div>\n

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, \u201cWhen I saw them hug, I just cried.\u201d As the film\u2019s famous line reminds us: <\/span>\u201cTell the people you love that you care about them, folks.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

(By: Richard Ren \/ LAPost)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

LAPost Los Angeles (May 9, 2025)...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":72759,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,6,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts","category-ca-local","category-world"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=72784"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72784\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":72791,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72784\/revisions\/72791"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/72759"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=72784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=72784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lapost.us\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=72784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}