Ang Lee - bridging the cultural divide. WDW Interlude Part 2

There's little doubt that Ang Lee is an extraordinary film maker. He might not communicate that much verbally with his cast, as noted by both Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger about their lonely experience of filming Brokeback Mountain, but his frames of film are each perfectly conceived. Lee manages to appear always in touch with his independent and auteur roots, while yet appealing to mainstream audiences when he chooses. For me, Lee has the ability to combine emotion with distance in the same shot. It's a very clever way to tell a story - no wonder, then, that Ang's Sense and Sensibility is a masterpiece. Ang Lee was made for Jane Austen, even with the great cultural divide.

This article from Film International reviews a new book about Ang Lee by Whitney Grothers Dilley. Both the book and the feature examine Lee's adaptation into, and of, western cinema. They also consider Ang's relationship with collaborator James Schamus, his unique bearing and how Ang the outsider is able to teach the west about itself through the medium of film.

Many thanks to BBMISwear for the scans and to IHJ for the picture.

Interlude - Festival of History Part 2

On Sunday, not being one to let a little thing like a torrential downpour put me off, I was back in Northamptonshire and Kelmarsh Hall for a second day of big explosions, charging knights and real ale tents. It was Day 2 of English Heritage's Festival of History. You can see some photos from Day 1 on the previous post, here are some highlights from Day 2 and I'm delighted to say that the sun did come out! In fact, I received a very sunburnt nose.

Do check out my report of the wonderful Festival of Historical Writing, which took place at the same event.