“When I grew up, in Taiwan, the Korean War was seen as a good war, where America protected Asia. It was sort of an extension of World War II. And it was, of course, the peak of the Cold War. People in Taiwan were generally proAmerican. The Korean War made Japan. And then the Vietnam War made Taiwan. There is some truth to that.”
Truth
“Sexuality is a big issue, but there are others - how much you commit to a relationship, to social obligation, to honesty and being honest with yourself.”
RelationshipAll Quotes by Ang Lee
“Sexuality is a big issue, but there are others - how much you commit to a relationship, to social obligation, to honesty and being honest with yourself.”
Relationship“Sensitivity and money are like parallel lines. They don't meet.”
Money“After making several tragic movies in a row, I was looking to do a comedy, and one without cynicism.”
Movies“I think each movie-making process is a very exhausting and satisfying and fulfilling experience for me.”
Experience“I think I can work with any type of actor.”
Work“Thinking back to those earlier days, I felt I was weak when I wasn't making movies, and then when I was, I thought I was weak as a family member.”
Family“I think a lot of people do big movies not because they are talented artists but because they can function in the circumstances.”
Movies“The father figure is something I love, but also suffocate from and want to work against.”
Work“I think the American West really attracts me because it's romantic. The desert, the empty space, the drama.”
Romantic“Making movies is a way of understanding myself and the world.”
Movies“Over the years Woodstock got glorified and romanticised and became the event that symbolised Utopia. It's the last page of our collective memory of the age of innocence. Then things turned ugly and would never be the same again.”
Age“You can get rich or famous by doing the same thing.”
Famous“I did a women's movie, and I'm not a woman. I did a gay movie, and I'm not gay. I learned as I went along.”
Women“The source of all the material comes from nothingness, illusion is working more on things you can prove. That's the principle, the essence of life, it is actually an illusion, not immaterial. That's worth pursuing. So illusion is not nothing. In a way, that is the truth.”
Truth“Economically, it's more expensive to make movies. I hope digital movies change that.”
Change“I'm not a romantic. In life I didn't have much experience with romance.”
Experience“When I sent those scripts, that was the lowest point of my life. We'd just had our second son, and when I went to collect them from hospital, I went to the bank to try and get some money to buy some diapers, the screen showed I've got $26 left.”
Money“I'm actually living my life with the material I choose to work with.”
Work“I look at American movies, the big muscles, and try to apply that to Chinese film-making.”
Movies