Renowned Taiwan-born director Ang Lee was conferred with the Knight of the Legion of Honor medal Feb. 3 by Jean-Francois Casabonne-Masonnave, director of French Office in Taipei, for his outstanding achievements in cinema and culture.
In a press release issued the following day, FOT praised the award-winning director, screen writer and producer for his ability to take on a wide range of genres with ease while grounding his works with a deep humanity.
Lee, 66, has had a long and illustrious career. He burst on the scene with the comedy drama “Pushing Hands” in 1992, which won best film in the Asia-Pacific Film Festival. His next movie, “The Wedding Banquet,” earned the best film award at the 1993 Berlin International Film Festival.
The filmmaker took home the best director Oscar for western love story “Brokeback Mountain” in 2006 and again in 2013 for 3D adventure “Life of Pi,” while his martial arts epic “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” was selected as best foreign language film in 2001. Thriller “Lust, Caution” later scooped seven prizes at the Golden Horse Awards, Taiwan’s equivalent of the Oscars, in 2007.
Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Legion of Honor is the highest award bestowed by France on individuals who have made outstanding accomplishments in a wide array of fields including art, culture and democracy.
Other cinematic greats to have received the honor include Clint Eastwood and Francis Coppola of the U.S. and Emir Kusturica of Serbia, according to FOT. (SFC-E)
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