Edward Yang: 1947-2007

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Edward Yang, apogee of the Taiwanese New Wave, has passed away. His last film, Yi Yi (A One and a Two), which secured for him the Best Director prize at Cannes in 2000, remains his most well-known work outside of his native country.

The film is one of my favorites of the last decade. In its subtle and calm storytelling, Yi Yi painted a beautiful portrait of a family in crisis and in transition. Sadly, it is also the only film of Yang’s available on DVD.

Here’s hoping that a New York programmer will compile a full retrospective of his work in the next year, so we can all experience this filmmaker’s artistry.